Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia that may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially (for example, when performing before a camera). In the context of public speaking, this fear is termed glossophobia, which is one of the most common phobias. Such anxiety may precede or accompany participation in any activity involving public self-presentation. In some cases, stage fright may be a part of a larger pattern of social phobia or social anxiety disorder, but many people experience stage fright without any wider problems.
Solutions to Performance Anxiety
One possible solution to performance anxiety is to reduce the significance of the other people. While experiencing performance anxiety, we often invest the others with imagined power, especially in their ability to affect us through their evaluation of our performance. Ways to reduce this imagined power is to increase the sense of one's own power, to perceive the vulnerability of others, and to accept oneself.
Another possible solution to performance anxiety is to eliminate the imagination of negative possibilities. A negative outcome is always possible, but that does not justify worrying about it before it occurs. Focusing one's attention on the present, rather than the future, is much more productive. A way to do this is to monitor our own performance.
A third solution to performance anxiety is to hold the performance in perspective by seeing its outcome as insignificant in relation to the totality of one's life. By realizing that nothing catastrophic is likely to occur, the need to avoid failure may decrease and switch to a more positive goal. An example of a positive goal would be to provide others with pleasure. Furthermore, it is helpful to focus on the process, the moment-to-moment experience, rather than the results of a performance. Additionally, it is important to concentrate on the enjoyable aspects of the process.
Preparing for Your Speech
There are many ideas on how to mitigate the effects of stage fright. One is as simple as being prepared. According to Lybi Ma with Psychology Today, "Being prepared is your first line of attack. You should be anxious if you haven't done your homework."
When preparing to give your speech, it is important to rehearse just as you plan to present it. This includes using your visual aids when you practice. This is necessary to do, since it trains you to make smooth transitions between slides. Take time into consideration as well, since it is hard to sit through a long speech, even if it is interesting. People can usually only concentrate for about twenty minutes at a time. This may mean you need to break your speech up into two parts if it is lengthy. Doing this gives the audience a short break in between and allows them to refocus and retain the important information.
Rehearsing
To rehearse effectively, you should consider the following tips:
- Pay special attention to the delivery of your key points; this is typically where stumbling for your words can become the greatest problem.
- Speak in a conversational style. Do not talk at your audience; pretend you are talking with your audience.
- Prepare for interruptions and questions. On this note, make sure to leave room for questions at the end of your presentation.
- Practice pausing in your speech after important information you would like to stress, as well as when you are transitioning from one main point to another. By doing so, the audience can better digest the information and reflect on what they have just heard.
- Rehearse with your graphics and coordinate them to your talk.
- Display your graphics only when you are talking about them. Graphics should support your presentation, not detract from it.
- Time your rehearsal, and use the same pace you will use when you present.
- Rehearse in front of others. Feedback can improve your speech and having an audience for practice can pinpoint weaknesses in the presentation.
- If possible, rehearse your speech in the location you will be giving it. This will allow you to feel more comfortable when you are giving your presentation.
- Make sure you hear your speech aloud, either by recording it, or by listening carefully to yourself during rehearsal. This will enable you to make sure that your words flow smoothly in an understandable manner.