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stage fright Stage fright prevents millions of people each day from performing at their best in front of an audience. But, as LESLEY STEPHENSON reveals, it can be cured.
It’s time for your presentation. You have worked hard on getting it right. But now you are so nervous you can barely breathe. Your hands are sweating, your heart is pounding. You can’t even remember what you want to say. You feel as if you are fighting your body all the way through, and afterwards you are disappointed. Stage fright has stopped you from being your best. Sound familiar to you? If it does, there’s good news because stage fright is curable! If you apply the following proven strategies to your public performances, you can prevent stage fright from getting in the way. First, though, you will need to take a quick ride back through time. Welcome to the Stone Age! Back then, Mr and Mrs Caveman faced physical threats from other cavemen and wild animals. As part of their survival kit, they were equipped with a defence mechanism known today as the ‘Fight or Flight’ reflex. When Mr Caveman was threatened by physical danger, his fear triggered an alarm. Adrenaline was released into his body to kick up his heartbeat; fat and sugar reserves were pumped to his muscles along with more blood so that he could either run away or stay to fight. Then,
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hydro-cortisone was added to the cocktail, shutting down his immune and digestive systems so that his physical strength was optimal in the face of peril.
chest or stomach muscles may make you feel stronger but it stops you from breathing easily. The answer here is to not physically fight your stage-fright symptoms at all.
What many people don’t know is that this mechanism is still part of our survival kit. When we feel scared, this same mechanism is activated and symptoms appear. This is great for facing sabre-toothed tigers but not for making a speech or confronting a hostile meeting. Sadly, our bodies can’t tell the difference. If you are even slightly fearful of public performance, the symptoms of stage fright will kick in – that is how we are made.
Thirdly, have a look at what you do with your body to make a good first impression. Ironically, stretching or puffing yourself up in order to make a good first impression could be stopping you from being the great speaker, sales rep, trainer or business executive you dream of being.
So how can you master your stage-fright symptoms? First of all, understand that these are a normal response to fear. There is nothing wrong with you. Get on with your assignment without fuss, and the symptoms will diminish. The second strategy is even more important. Save your creativity for preparing your presentations rather than ‘fighting’ your stagefright symptoms. Many speakers, executives, teachers and sales people use ingenious but destructive methods to literally fight off their stage fright. But tensing your body only makes the symptoms worse. Tightening up your
Famous people who have suffered from stage fright include Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Meryl Streep.
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words? 30 WORKING WOMEN® n Winter 2013
Find them at professional coaching in public speaking and other associated communication skills
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Of course, we know that first impressions are important. But thousands of people wrongly believe that the best way to make a good first impression is through adopting some artificial physical attitude or posture. Unfortunately, this is sabotage and stresses your body even more. In order to resonate with your audience, you just need to be you. A good first impression cannot be created by unnecessary muscular effort. Finally, regular physical exercise is also important for stage-fright sufferers as it reduces the level of chemicals released into the body by stage-fright processes. n
CONTACT Lesley Stephenson BUSINESS Speaking Solutions PHONE +61 (0) 497 780 039
www.lesleystephenson.com
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