Overcome Stage Fright: Proven Strategies to Calm Nerves and Speak with Confidence
Have you ever felt your heart racing, your hands sweating, and your mind blinking right before speaking? You're not alone. Welcome to the Confident Speaker Podcast by Speaking Your Brand. This is your host, AI Carol. Let me take you back to a humid October evening several years ago.
AI Carol:I was backstage at a TEDx women event. I had practiced my talk dozens of times. I knew this material backwards and forwards. But as I stood behind the curtain fully mic'd up, I could feel the nerves creeping in then surging. My mouth went completely dry.
AI Carol:I got on stage and halfway through, I had to stop just to get a sip of water. Yikes. Not the vision I had in mind for my TEDx debut. What happened? I was experiencing something we all face at some point, stage fright or performance anxiety.
AI Carol:That moment taught me that even if you're fully prepared, nerves can still hit hard and they're nothing to be ashamed of. So if you've ever wondered, how do I deal with stage fright when I'm about to speak? That's exactly what we're going to talk about today. Here are three practical and proven ways to turn your nerves into confidence, not by shutting them down, but by working with your body and your mind. First, get your reps in on your own terms.
AI Carol:Preparation isn't just about knowing your content. It's about making the act of speaking feel familiar. Speak your talk out loud to yourself, then practice in front of a small, safe audience, maybe your mastermind group or even a group of friends on Zoom. It's critical that your body gets used to delivering the material with people watching you because it trains your brain, this isn't danger. I've done this before.
AI Carol:I know how to do this. And that rewiring is powerful. Second, start visualizing your success, not just hoping for it. Picture the room you'll be walking into. Think about the energy you want to bring.
AI Carol:Ask the event organizer for details ahead of time. What color is the stage backdrop? What kind of mic will you use? How many people are expected? Visualization works because it trains your brain to treat the situation as normal.
AI Carol:Just like athletes imagine the game before they play it, you can mentally rehearse your role as a successful grounded speaker. And third, reconnect with your body before you go on stage. Before speaking, I like to walk around the venue, greet people as they walk in, shake hands. That simple physical connection actually releases oxytocin in your body, which helps reduce stress and raises your feelings of connection. Yes, science is amazing.
AI Carol:You can also do power poses, arms up, hands on hips, or a few jumping jacks back in the green room to move that nervous energy. Stage fright isn't weakness, it's energy. And when you learn how to ride that energy rather than let it ride you, that's when your confidence grows. So next time you're feeling nervous before you speak, remember, nerves are simply your body preparing you to do something brave, and that something has the power to change someone else's life. You have something to say, let it be heard.
AI Carol:If you'd like coaching support to feel more confident and prepared on stage and in any speaking situation, check out ways to work with us at speakingyourbrand.com. And be sure to follow the Confident Speaker podcast on Apple or Spotify for more insightful and actionable strategies like this one. This on demand episode was generated by my AI voice clone trained on speaking your brand content. You've got this, and I'll talk to you next time.
