Got Stage Fright?

First of all, you are not alone. Speaker's anxiety or stage fright affects 99 percent of the Earth's population.   In all cultures in the world, standing up in front of people and making a presentation causes a physiological reaction in the body of the presenter. Does the thought of having to present give your heart palpitations? Dry mouth, trembling, sweating, blushing, lack of focus, racing, nausea and dread are some of the symptoms you may experience. It seems that the greatest reaction occurs when the presenter is facing a group of strangers, a large group, or people who are perceived to be of higher rank.  This dynamic between the presenter and the audience triggers this flood of specific physiological responses. We are animals, herding animals, and when we separate ourselves from the group the resulting adrenaline “rush” creates a surge of energy that either empowers or overwhelms the performer.  Typical reactions are dry “cotton” mouth, sweaty palms, light-headedness, shaky hands and knees, pounding heart, lack of breath, nausea, forgetfulness and for many, an overwhelming sense of terror. When the trigger occurs it often feels as though the mind has stopped working altogether.  The neocortex, the "reasoning" part of the brain, shuts down.  At one moment the presenter knows their material and how they intend to present it and in the next moment they have forgotten who they are, where they are, and what they are doing.  The "animal" in the presenter sees the audience as predators and begins to watch them carefully to see which one will strike first.  The presenter's eyes dart quickly around the audience. When the eyes begin to dart, the presenter's concentration is broken, making it difficult to focus on the content and goal of the speech.  At the same time, the audience is distracted by the darting eyes and begins to see the presenter, on an animal level, as weak or as prey.  Their response may be to feel sorry for the speaker or to simply focus on the sense of vulnerability.  In either case, the audience is not able to keep their focus on the content and message. What can we do?  To counteract this effect the presenter must breathe, giving plenty of oxygen to the brain, then calm his or her gaze, settling in with one audience member at a time, speaking with that person as if they were the only person in the room for that moment.  It is important to linger with one person through a thought, not moving the gaze except at the most natural spots such as where commas or periods would be if it were written down rather than spoken. The presenter does not stare, but rather uses a soft receptive gaze.  If an audience member averts their eyes, the presenter can let them go and simply find another.  The effect of this technique is to trick the brain, shift the dynamics, lessen the effects of the adrenalin rush, and allow the presenter to focus on the message and content. Practice this approach on your own in any group where you might be uncomfortable.  Or, come to one of our Speaking with Ease workshops where, in one evening, you will get lots of practice and begin to feel the wonderful freedom from this burden that you have been carrying for far too long. 2009-03-04T07:26:09Z