Stage fright: How to overcome your speech anxiety

Everyone knows it: whether it's a presentation in front of colleagues, a speech in front of the family or a statement in a club - as soon as it's your turn to speak, you start to get nervous, break out in a sweat and your voice starts to shake. Many people have stage fright and even artists who are used to performing can never get rid of it completely. A certain amount of excitement beforehand is also normal. But there is a lot you can do to become more confident. We give you 8 tips on how to get your stage fright under control!

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via Tanja Seiffert
10/24/2018, 13:20
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Don't lose your nerve now - with good preparation you don't need to be afraid!

8 tips against stage fright and speech anxiety

1. prepare yourself very well

Think very carefully about what you want to say. Immerse yourself in the topic and get all the information you need in good time. That way, you will be well prepared for questions and need not be afraid. As soon as you shine with your specialist knowledge, the stage fright will disappear almost automatically, because then the actual topics will come to the fore and you as a person will fade into the background.

2. set specific goals for the presentation

What should be the core message of your presentation? What is the most important message you want to convey to others? Once you have determined this, it will be easier for you to structure your speech sensibly and not lose sight of the central theme. This is particularly helpful for a longer speech.

3. look for inspiring role models

Listen and watch other speakers carefully: How do they structure their speeches? What convinces you? What doesn't? Incorporate what inspires you into your own speech.

4. practise in peace and quiet at home

When you have finished your concept, present your speech to a friend or your partner. The person you are practising with is not familiar with your topic? All the better! Ask for honest feedback on your wording, the clarity of your sentences and the order. Speech anxiety can also overwhelm you in the middle of a presentation and throw you off track. This happens if you are not fluent with your text or if there are gaps in its content - if you then stumble in front of an audience, it is sometimes difficult to regain your bearings. It is therefore better to go through your speech with familiar faces first.

5. make a video of yourself

Why not also shoot a video of your presentation rehearsal? Do you have pure stage fright? Maybe, but this is a great way to see how you come across to others and whether you could possibly change your pace of speech, facial expressions and posture. The more often you practise this, the more confident you will become! It is important that you relax and remain authentic!

6 Volunteer for smaller presentations

Take the opportunity to volunteer for small speeches on various occasions. You will see: With each contribution, your stage fright will subside a little. A blackout? Never mind. Take a deep breath and have a sip of water. You will grow from any mishaps - and will then be all the more confident when it really matters in a presentation later on.

7 Involve the audience

What do you want your core message to be? What is the most important message you want to convey to others? Once you have determined this, it will be easier for you to structure your speech sensibly and not lose sight of the central theme. This is particularly helpful in a longer speech.

8. be open and admit your nervousness

Well prepared - but still have stage fright? Be honest and say right at the beginning of your speech that you are nervous: this is guaranteed to earn you sympathy points with the audience and the atmosphere will be more relaxed.