STAGE FRIGHT

“The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts

working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.”

- George Jessel

Stage fright is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially.

Stage FrightCommunication Apprehension

Fear of Public Speaking has been rated as the #1 fear in America. Some say it is more feared than death.

If you have this fear you share it with millions and millions of people.

Many people suffering from fear of public speaking believe that they are alone in feeling so frightened.

The truth is that most people just don't want to talk about their fear of being in front of a group.

A PhobiaAn Unreasonable Fear

Called by many names - A. stage fright B. speech anxiety C. shyness D. fear of speaking E. performance anxiety F. Speech phobia

Fear of public speaking can have a negative effect on careers and the ability to get things done, and therefore on your success.

THIS USUALLY HAPPENS!

What happens when you

have to speak in public?

Did your heart beat faster than usual?

Did you experience a mental blackout?

Did you feel your blood rushing to your head and to your cheeks?

Was there a sensation of butterflies flitting in your stomach?

Were you perspiring more than usual?

Were you at a loss for breath?

Did you lose your voice?

Was your body tense?

Were your hands cold? Were your hands

trembling?

Symptoms of Stage Fright

Punjabians

Dry mouth Tight throat Sweaty hands Cold hands

Shaky handsGive me a hand (Oops, I couldn't

resist)Nausea (Sickness) Fast pulse

Shaky knees Trembling lips

You are suffering from stage fright if you have:

IDENTIFY THE STAGE FEAR

Most people experience stage fright. Stage fright affects most people in physical ways Dry mouth Tight throat Sweaty hands Cold hands Shaky hands Nausea Fast pulse Shaky knees Trembling lips

Fear of success

CAUSESInadequate preparationFear of being judgedUnfamiliarity with the audience or the

environmentLack of knowledge about public speaking Feelings of inadequacyFear of the unknownNegative past experiences

Anxiety

It is an unusual fearful feeling that everyone goes through when faced with an important task.

QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPEECH ANXIETY

1- NONE 2- VERY SLIGHTLY 3- SLIGHTLY4- INTENSE 5- VERY INTENSE

___1. weak voice___2. shortness of breath___3. awkward pauses___4. preference to look up/down___5. rapid heartbeats___6. playing with pen/hanky

QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPEECH ANXIETY

1- NONE 2- VERY SLIGHTLY 3- SLIGHTLY4- INTENSE 5- VERY INTENSE

___7. no eye contact with the audience___8. moving too much___9. trembling hands___10. feeling cold___11. inability to think clearly___12. dry mouth and throat

QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPEECH ANXIETY

1- NONE 2- VERY SLIGHTLY 3- SLIGHTLY4- INTENSE 5- VERY INTENSE

___13. no facial expression___14. wanting to end speech___15. to fast rate of speech___16. feeling dizzy___17. feeling awkward and clumsy___18. perspiring too much

QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPEECH ANXIETY

1- NONE 2- VERY SLIGHTLY 3- SLIGHTLY4- INTENSE 5- VERY INTENSE

___19. feeling nervous___20. shaking voice

Qualitative Interpretation

100 – 80: Do not worry; all is not lost. Speaking skills are required. With your teacher’s help and conscientious efforts on your part you will yet become a good speaker.

79- 59: Good! However, you have to spend more time preparing yourself for public speaking.

Qualitative Interpretation

58 – 38:Very Good! With a little more training, you will become a better speaker

37-20: Congratulations! You are potentially an effective speaker.

HOW TO OVERCOME?

COGNITIVE STRATEGIES

Most detrimental - catastrophising:

“I think I am going to faint”

“I’m sure to make a dreadful mistake and that will ruin everything”

Best kind - realistic appraisal:

“I’m bound to make a few mistakes, but so does everyone.”

“The audience wants me to play well and will make allowance for a few slips”.

0 Be extremely well prepared 0 Organize your speaking notes 0 Absolutely memorize your opening statement 0 If you have to Practice, practice, practice. 0 Especially practice bits so you can spit out a few minutes of your program no matter how nervous you are. 0 Anticipate hard and easy questions

HOW YOU CAN DO IT…

HOW YOU CAN DO IT…

•Be in the room early.•Yawn to relax your throat. •Doodle. •Breathe deeply, evenly, and slowly for several minutes. •Don't drink caffeinated drinks. •Go somewhere private and warm up your voice, muscles, etc.

Strategies for Reducing

Punjabians

Stage Fright

Visualisation Strategies

Punjabians

• Concentrate on how good you are.• Pretend you are just chatting with a

group of friends.• Close your eyes and imagine the

audience listening, laughing, and applauding

• Remember happy moments from your past.

• Think about your love for and desire to help the audience.

Strategies in Advance of Program

Punjabians

• Even if you do not like the topic, develop an interest in it.

• Be extremely well-prepared.• Anticipate hard and easy

question.• Organize.• Memorize your opening

statement.• Practice.

Strategies Just before the Presentation

Punjabians

• Be in the room at least an hour early, if possible, to triple check everything.• Concentrate on searching for current and immediate things that are

happening at the event that you can mention during your speech (especially in the opening).

• Get into conversation with people near you.• Look at your notes. • Take a quick walk.• Concentrate on the ideas.• Concentrate on your audience.• Hide speaking notes around the stage area so you know you have a

backup if you happen to draw a blank. • Shake hands and smile with attendees before the program. • Double-check your A/V equipment • Say something to someone to make sure your voice is ready to go.• Go somewhere private and warm up your voice, muscles, etc. • Go to a mirror and check out how you look. • Breathe deeply, evenly, and slowly for several minutes.

Strategies When the Presentation Begins

Punjabians

• If your legs are trembling lean on a lectern/table of shift your legs or move about.

• Don't hold notes.• Use eye contact.• Look at the friendliest faces in the

audience.• Do not comment on your

nervousness.

On-Camera Techniques

Punjabians

• If your presentation is being videotaped before a live audience, ignore the camera. Likewise, if you are being interviewed before a camera, the viewer expects to see you communicating with your ‘live’ audience or interviewer.

• If you are interviewed by a television reporter, keep your comments short and to the point.

• If you must face a hostile interview on-camera, avoid the appearance of surprise. The only preparation is to expect an opening question that is hostile, direct, admissions, or explanations.

Skills and Attitude to Conquer Stage Firght

Punjabians

• To unlearn the unwanted physical reactions associated with stage fright, you must practice performance before an audience.

• Mold your attitude around all your successes. Remember what success feels like, what it looks like.

• Even when you perform in a less than stellar fashion, remember the parts you did that were outstanding.

• Replace negative attitudes with positive ones. A positive attitude will lead you to seek any help you may need to improve. A negative attitude shackles your personal and professional life.

• Decide beforehand that it will be a fun experience.

Stage Fright--Strategies

Try not to hold the microphone by hand in the first minute.

Don't hold notes. The audience can see them shake. Use three-by-five cards instead.

Use eye contact. It will make you feel less isolated.

Look at the friendliest faces in the audience.

Joke about your nervousness. What's the right wine to go with fingernails?

Tips for a great speech…

Speak Up! Make sure to speak a little louder than normal conversation when you are giving your speech.

Slow Down! When you are giving your speech to your listeners, remember to slow your speech down a little bit and don't rush through the words. Make sure to enunciate and don't slur your words either.

Be Confident! You can do this! Believe in yourself!

Overcoming Anxiety Understanding presentational anxiety and applying some of these techniques and suggestions will help you overcome the more paralyzing forms of stage fright. They might become very useful when you give your next speech.

Ten Successful TipsControl the “Butterflies”

Know the room Know the audience Know your material Relaxation Visualize giving your

speech Gain experience

Control the “Butterflies”

People want you to succeed Don’t apologize Concentrate on your message-not

the medium. Turn nervousness into positive

energy

Practice takes you from this..

To this….

Reference:www.slideshare.net