D-day: what to do during the presentation to overcome stage fright

Stage fright is caused by the fight or flight response.  Being well prepared can help overcome this natural response from occurring. However, when it comes to the actual presentation, you might still get nervous and experience stage fright. These are some tips that you can use during the presentation in order to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.

• Pauses: Take as many pauses as possible.  Though it might seem like it is long to you, remember that for the audience, it is an opportunity to digest the facts and figures that you are introducing to them. Taking a pause can help you collect your thoughts and calm yourself during the presentation.

• Present your first sentence from memory: Although you can have helpful hints to help you present, it is a good to present your first sentence from memory. This makes you feel confident and starts off the presentation on the right note.

• Maintain eye contact:  Looking at a few friendly faces in the audience will help you feel confident.

• Don’t read from your notes: Reading out the entire presentation is not advisable. However, having a few hints to move your speech along is a good idea in case you forget the content.  Remember that if you get stuck, you can summarize your points. Effective public speakers ensure that the main points are effectively highlighted.

• Show enthusiasm: Interest and enthusiasm in your chosen topic would be infectious and reflect in the audience.

• Use visual aids effectively: Visual aids would encourage the audience to keep their attention on the presentation. This will reduce your nervousness.

There are certain things that you can do after the presentation in order to learn from your experience and end your presentation on a good note, whatever your presentation may have been: encourage questions, end with a summary and appreciation, review your performance, seek out feedback.

In my experience, the more I put myself in situations where I had to speak in front of people, the more determined I became to conquer this abstract but powerfully evil nemesis. I have made it my life’s mission ever since that New Year’s party of 2007, when I sputtered nonsensically, to read every bit of information that came my way that could help. I have persevered at recognizing, analyzing, understanding and, to a good extent, finding a way to overcome my stage fright.

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How to avoid stage fright - Prevention is better than cure.

There is no shortcut to this.  Being well prepared is a big part of avoiding nervousness.  Being prepared is a good strategy to prevent the fight or flight response from kicking in.  By preparing yourself well, you are reducing the perception of danger.  The very process of preparation helps you calm your nerves, thereby preventing pre-presentation nerves.  Time management and planning techniques would be helpful at this stage. Make good use of the days or weeks prior to your presentation by researching, planning your presentation and practicing.

Before your presentation, try to take every single measure to prevent yourself from getting nervous in the first place. If you have had to suddenly talk in front of a big crowd and have stage fright, this would be because you have not had time for preparing your speech.  However, if you have even a few minutes notice, using this time to plan your speech would be really helpful.  If you do this, even if you get nervous and have stage fright, your practice will make sure that you presentation goes as smoothly as possible.

Here are a list of things to do beforehand:
•    Prepare meticulously:  Research diligently and study thoroughly about what you are going to present.  Knowing what you are talking about is going to give you confidence.
•    Rehearse repeatedly: There is no substitute for practice. If you have sufficient practice, you are sure to go on stage and do your speech. It also helps you feel more confident and you will be able to complete your presentation even if you feel nervous.
•    Come early: It is a good idea to come early and check out the venue and familiarize yourself with the surroundings.  You should plan where you want to stand and get a feel of the lighting. This will help you feel more in control of the situation and help in reducing your nervousness. Also, check the equipment such as mikes and visual aids that your might want to use to make sure they are in working order.
•    Dress professionally:  Make sure you are wearing clothing appropriate for the occasion. Don’t wear a tuxedo or an evening gown to a casual party or vice versa. Remember clothes make the man and dressing well will give you confidence to face a crowd. and in something that makes you confidence.
•    Greet members of the audience: Starting off with friendly body language and positive attitude sets the tone for the presentation. Getting to know even a part of your audience in advance will make you more comfortable while presenting.

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Fight or flight - the mechanics of stage fright

 

It was New Year’s Eve and I was with my colleagues at the annual office party. I was told that I would be the one thanking the organizers on behalf of everyone. Busy with work, I didn’t really pay much attention to this task and thought I could just wing it. But, when the time came, my heart started racing, my mouth became dry, and my vision became hazy. To this day, I don’t know how or what I actually said that day.

That was not a one off incident either.  Addressing crowds seems to be a huge part of every job I’ve had – from training staff in computer basics to working as an interpreter in my community and experiencing various degrees of stage fright on a regular basis has become part of my life.  For the past 10 years, I’ve been learning as much as possible about what stage fright is, why does it occur, what actually happens during and what some ways to overcome them are. Like millions of other people, I suffer from stage fright.

So just what is stage fright?  According to ADAA, “those who are filled with feelings of dread and panic, degree of nervous apprehension when preparing to speak up or perform in front of a group] may be suffering from a form of social anxiety disorder” called stage fright. Stage fright isn’t something that is only limited to happening in front of large audiences (on stages) but anywhere the person might be the center of attention.

Shara Sand, clinical assistant professor of psychology at New York's Yeshiva University says that stage fright represents the fight or flight response.  The fight or flight response triggers physiological responses like sweaty palms, racing heart, adrenaline (also called the fight-or-flight hormone) production, which leads to shakiness – these are the symptoms of someone experiencing stage fright. No doubt, this response has played an important part in the survival of humankind since prehistoric times. When we face something that our brain interprets as a dangerous situation, this response is triggered.  So when we are the center of attention and we know that we are being judged, this is perceived as a dangerous situation as it affects our position in the social structure.  Thus, understanding the physiology of stage fright is the basis for overcoming stage fright.
References

Goldberg, J. (2015). Stage Fright (Performance Anxiety). Retrieved July 11, 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/stage-fright-performance-anxiety#1

Esposito, J. (n.d.). Conquering Stage Fright. Retrieved July 11, 2017, from https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder/treatment/conquering-stage-fright

Enright, P. (2007, December 9). Pulling back the curtain on stage fright. www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017, from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20631646/ns/health-mental_health/t/pulling-back-curtain-stage-fright/#.WWUmUFGQypo

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