Overcoming stage fright

When you watch little kids perform a stage act, you wonder why they don't get the heebie-jeebies. There is no fear because they listened to their parents or coaches about practicing the act until they get it right. Plus, they don't care what the audience thinks about them. You see them having fun on the stage. What happens to these kids as they grow older?

Over the years, we get busy with school, learning a trade, jobs or family. Very few gravitate towards the performing arts or public speaking. As adults, we become much more conscious about others' perception of us. No wonder, given the opportunity to speak publicly or present an important topic to an executive audience, we feel the butterflies in our tummies. Many business leaders, when suddenly thrust into the limelight, have had to get over their hesitation to speak publicly, often ex-tempore. I have witnessed people with a perfect grasp of English getting cold feet when they are given the chance to speak publicly. On the other hand, there were times when I could not understand how a terrible speaker of the language had the gall to wield the microphone in front of a large audience. How do we get over the fear of public speaking?

As a leader, when you believe public speaking or presentations will be an important part of your role, I recommend seeking a coach or joining a local Toastmasters club. Can you improve public speaking on your own? Of course, you can. If you are passionate about the topic you plan to talk about, practicing the speech becomes easy. Seek out colleagues or people in your network to help you practice.

Finally, I suggest looking for tips from artists used to performing in front of large audiences. Stephen Taylor, a professional drummer, presents three tips for getting over stage fright. Be prepared for surprises, and learn to take them in stride. In addition, take a moment to put to use a breathing technique developed by Dr. Andrew Weil to calm yourself down prior to an important speech or meeting. Then, don't let any other thoughts distract you from your performance.

How do you prepare mentally for important meetings and speeches? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.