Since our school days and performances at various events (do you remember that term), when we recited, sang, and danced in front of our parents and relatives, we carry within us that discomfort that arises before any performance in front of a larger audience. You probably can still recall the ‘butterflies’ in your stomach and sweaty palms when you had to expose yourself to public evaluation.
However, such early experiences of singing, reciting, and dancing can help later in education and work. Anyone who accumulates experiences in public speaking of any kind during childhood and early youth will find it easier to perform in business situations.
The fear of public speaking is a normal and natural feeling. Everyone experiences stage fright, even professionals. The feeling of fear is not something that happens only to us, but it is important not to let it block us; rather, we should control it and transform it into creative and driving energy. The fear of people, of the audience arises due to the specifics of the situation – you stand out from the group and place yourself in a very vulnerable position where you expose yourself to a kind of evaluation. Today, many people learn to deliver boring and mediocre presentations, devoid of any creativity, just to minimize the risk of ridicule and failure. No matter how we label our fear and how it manifests, the root is always the same – it is the fear of failure.
Common Fears Psychologists explain stage fright as the fear of embarrassment. We fear that our shortcomings will come to light and that we will thus become smaller in the eyes of others, as with each appearance before an audience, we put at stake the image we have created of ourselves. An imaginary fear arises that everyone will see something we do not want them to know about us. The most common fears are: that I will look foolish, that I will say something wrong, fear of criticism, a demanding audience, forgetting the text, being unprepared, or fear that my voice will tremble.
Some people feel stage fright even though they have no conscious fear; rather, they experience some unknown internal blockage. Their throat dries up, they feel a cramp in their abdominal muscles, their heart races, they sweat, forget, and their voice trembles. The speaker is aware that their fear can be noticed, which further frightens them. Despite all this, public speaking in today’s public and business environment is necessary. Many people with a fear of public speaking avoid public situations, even though this can hinder their career advancement. The goal of overcoming stage fright is not to feel nothing before a public appearance; indeed, a certain amount of stage fright can be stimulating and is proof of our respect for the audience. The goal is to feel emotions that will allow you to connect with the audience in a way that is specific to you. Stage fright is one of the strongest barriers to achieving successful verbal communication, but we can use it positively and transform that excess tension into creative energy.
Fear and stage fright cannot disappear all at once, but they can be reduced. There are simple exercises that allow us to confront ourselves, our fears, and anxieties, and neutralize them in this way. The first step to reducing stage fright is to acknowledge its existence, and the magic word in the fight against the fear of public speaking is ‘preparation’.
