We’ve all felt that familiar definitive chill down our spine at least once when in the spotlight. May it be for a speech, a performance, or an interview–the goosebumps are a collective experience.In this blog, you’ll find curated effective methods on how to overcome stage anxiety and not let the fright dull your shine during Student Speaker Competitions.
Why Do We Have Stage Fright?
The most common reason for stage fright is the fear of making a mistake in front of an audience and being judged for it. Our body’s primitive fight-or-flight response is triggered by the fear of judgment, rejection, or making mistakes in front of an audience. This natural reaction can cause anxiety, a racing heart and a heightened sense of vulnerability.
Exercises That Calm Nerves Instantly
The easiest and quickest way to deal with unwanted feelings of stress right before a big moment is with the help of several exercises that help you calm your brain and let it know— it’s time to calm down.
- Breathing Exercises: Inhale for four seconds, hold for seven more, and exhale for eight seconds. This technique reduces hyperventilation and results in a quicker sense of calm and reduced anxiety spikes.
- Progressive Muscle Release: When we tense our muscles (fists, shoulders, jaw) for more than five seconds and release, muscle tension is reduced which is biologically linked to anxiety. This loosens tension which may have caused shaky hands and stuttering otherwise.
- Mental Grounding: List five things you see, four things you feel, three sounds you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. By tricking your brain into being distracted, the spiral of anxious thoughts in your head can be broken.
- Vocal Exercises: Humming can help stimulate nerves through vocal vibrations and lip trills (“brrr”) help relax facial tension in the jaw and ensure a calm steady voice.
Know Your Audience
Stage fright usually stems from the fear of the unknown. Knowing your audience can be a powerful tool in knowing how to deliver your speech. When you know your audience — the age group, background, expectations of you, and the judging panel’s ways; your nerves can rest at ease.
With a familiar audience, cracking jokes or making relevant arguments in alignment with your listeners can also help score points. Speaking to your audience doesn’t only make you feel comfortable with your speech but by engaging with their interests, you can get more attention compared to a speaker who stays rigid and clinical.
How To Handle Mistakes Without Freezing
Sometimes, stumbling upon your words, making the wrong hand gesture, or forgetting your next line can land you in a tough loop of freezing up and making it worse. Knowing how to handle these awkward moments without losing the audience’s engagement and track of your own speech can help you not lose critical points and get yourself back into momentum.
- Pause and Continue: In case you find yourself jumbling up your sentences or losing track, stop for a moment. Take a breath, and continue. Collect your thoughts in those few seconds while giving the audience a break.
- A Recovery Line: Have a few phrases ready to fill the awkward gaps in between, for example:“What I meant to say is…”,“Here’s the main point…”,“In essence,…”
- Skip and Return: If you forget a word or sentence, skip it and move on. You can return to the same point later in your speech. The audience doesn’t know your script.
Tips from Successful Speakers On Stage Anxiety
If you ever feel like you’re the only one who experiences anxiety in front of an audience on a stage, don’t worry.
Many successful and well known speakers all around the world have admitted to struggling with public speaking and dealing with nervousness.
Barack Obama, the former president of the United States has admitted he isn’t a natural at public speaking. Before every big speech, he admits to have practiced tenuously; memorizing his lines beforehand to avoid mishaps.
Similarly, world renowned writer Mark Twain says, ”There are two kinds of speakers: the nervous and the liars.” Nerves are normal, not letting them define your entire address is your decision.
Conclusion
One thing to keep in mind when delivering a speech is that your mistakes don’t define your entire performance. Public speaking is all about learning from your mistakes and doing better.
