Below are some general tips for reducing stage fright:
1. Take the focus off yourself and your fear and put it on your true purpose, which is to contribute something of value to your audience.
2. Stop scaring yourself with thoughts about what might go wrong. Instead, focus your attention on thoughts and images that are calming and reassuring.
3. Refuse to think thoughts that create self-doubt. Instead, practice self-talk that builds confidence and trust in yourself.
4. Practice methods to calm and relax your mind and body, such as deep breathing, relaxation exercises, yoga, and meditation.
5. Practice healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising and eating healthy.Stay away from caffeine, sugar, and alcohol.
6. Visualize your success. Always focus on your strengths and your abilities to handle other challenging situations.
7. Prepare ahead of time. Practice aloud so you hear your own voice and are confident you know your material.
8. Make connections with your audience. Smile and greet people, treating the audience as friends rather than enemies.
9. Stand or sit in a self-assured, confident posture. Remain warm and open and give your audience eye contact.
10. Give up trying to be perfect and know it is okay to make mistakes. Be natural. Be yourself.
Getting Help:
There is help and hope for this problem! Janet Esposito, M.S.W. is the author of In The SpotLight: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing and a CD entitled In The SpotLight: Guided Exercises to Create a Calm and Confident State of Mind, Body, and Spirit While Speaking or Performing. Janet has been running a workshop called No More Stage Fright and offering individual phone coaching sessions for the past ten years to help people overcome their fear of public speaking or performing. Janet’s expertise comes not only from her role as a therapist and coach who has specialized in this area, but she has also overcome her own terror of public speaking. For more information, please visit www.performanceanxiety.com or call 877-814-7705 (toll free).
