Do you get shaky legs at the start of a presentation? They may be invisible!

Do You Get the Invisible Shakes?

When I get up to speak on a stage, I get shaky legs quite a bit! I can’t count how many times, actually. It’s been an ongoing issue for most of my life!

It doesn’t happen all of the time, but it happens often enough to be a recognizable pattern. I’ll often start out on stage with two minutes of leg shaking. It goes away after a few minutes, and then I’m fine for the rest of the presentation.

I learned early on in my career that the shaking will stop in a few minutes, so I don’t let it bug me too much. I also learned that the shaking usually happens when I’m sitting down for a while before I stand up to speak.

I now know to stand up for a minute or two BEFORE I go on stage. For me, it gets the shakes out of the way.

That’s one reason I encourage my public speaking clients to use public speaking and rehearsals to practice self-awareness. Learning what our bodies are likely do in all kinds of situations is important information to know!

For years, I did self-talk, re-framing those nervous shakes as excitement. The cool thing about that self-talk is that it’s true! If you’ve ever seen a horse before a big race, they have shaking legs, too. The adrenaline makes them hop and prance at the starting gate.

But about 20 years ago, I was being videoed for an important presentation. And sure enough, for the first two minutes on stage, my legs were trembling LIKE MAD beneath me. Violently.

Inwardly, I thought:

“What rotten luck! I know the shakes are going to pass, but YIKES. It will be on the video, and my first few minutes will look AWFUL And my client will think I’m HORRIBLE.”

I kept going on with my presentation, though. Hey, the show must go on!

And sure enough, the shaking stopped after about a minute. I was happy about that, but internally, I cursed my legs for trembling.

Couldn’t my legs have given me a break this one time? Curses!

But later, I reviewed the video. And guess what?

I saw no shaking. I was just standing there, talking enthusiastically. No one even saw my internal thoughts as I cursed my invisible shakes!

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I stopped, rewound. Zoomed in. Stared at my legs.

I was just standing there. No shaking. Nothing. My shaking and trembling was all in my head.

What feels intense internally often isn't noticeable to others. Heck, it wasn’t even noticeable to me, when I saw myself on video!

That’s a pretty powerful realization, so I thought I’d share it. If you feel anxiety about appearing nervous on stage, try rehearsing in front of others with a video running. If it’s your first run-through, you might feel nervous and get the shakes.

Then, look at your rehearsal. See if you can tell if you’re shaking.

Chances are, you’ve got the invisible shakes. And if you do, this is good knowledge to have! You’re like a champion racehorse. You’re ready to rock your presentation!

Spontaneity is not only fun, but also a valuable skill for public speaking, team building, and creativity. But how do you practice being spontaneous?

That's where Sponto Time comes in. It's a card deck that I co-created with Izzy Gesell, CSP a master of humor and improvisation. The cards have prompts and games that challenge you to think on your feet, be more playful, and surprise yourself.

I use Sponto Time with my clients who want to improve their public speaking skills and confidence. I also play it with my friends and family for some laugh-out-loud moments.

Sponto Time is a fun gift for anyone who wants to add more fun and spontaneity in their life. It's easy to carry, easy to play, and hard to resist.

So don't miss this opportunity to get your Sponto Time card deck today. It will make your holiday season more joyful and memorable. Great stocking stuffer!