Managing the Fear of Public Speaking / Handling Stage Fear

Managing stage fear www.powercommunication.com©

Managing Stage Fear

Joseph PrabhakarKeynote Speaker, Storyteller, Presentation Coach



Fear could be your friend. Or your worst enemy.


If you have butterflies in your stomach…


you might as well make them fly in a formation


Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.


Practice. Practice. Practice.


As you practice, visualize your audience, the stage and the setting.


Arrive early.


Familiarize with your stage. Stand there. Visualize yourself speaking to the audience.


Greet and get to know people as they come in. Helps with talking to them from the stage.


Be confident in your knowledge, preparation and practice.


Focus on how good you are. Remember you prepared. Practiced.


Believe you are the best person to deliver this speech.


A little vanity goes a long way.


Remember! The audience is lucky to have you speak!


Remember! You are the expert. Because you prepared. Practiced. Over and over.


Would you have trouble talking to one of the audience 1-on1?


Now imagine talking to a group!


Does the individual scare you?


The group is a collection of such individuals.


They are audience. Not jury.


They are not there to judge you.


So why should they scare you?


You are going to teach them a thing or two.


They are there to LEARN from you.


The audience is there to cheer you.


Once you are on stage…


Belly breathe several times. Breathing calms the nerves.


take your time…


don’t be compelled to speak immediately…


take ten seconds to compose yourself…


if you are not comfortable standing without doing anything - shuffle your notes,

arrange them…


that will give you the time to compose yourself


One more onstage technique!



It’s not about you…


it’s about them…


focus on them…


focus on helping them learn / understand.


Think of your speech as a conversation…


speak to one person at a time…


then to another…so on and so forth.


Dont’s



No caffeine - coffee or any other kind - preferably.


Don’t draw attention to your hands.


If you have to drink water, make it quick.


Leave the notes on the lectern. Don’t hold them.


You don’t want the audience to see you trembling!


Joseph Prabhakarwww.powercommunication.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jprabhakar

http://www.powercommunication.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jprabhakar

Presentations & Public Speaking

Managing the Fear of Public Speaking / Handling Stage Fear