I repeatedly tell clients that they will feel so much more confident in front of an audience if they practice and prepare well. Lack of preparation is one of the biggest contributors to stage fright. If you want to share your message and connect with your audience, it is worth taking the time to ensure you can communicate confidently and with clarity.
I have been a professional performer for over three decades. I know what happens when I am not at my best. I also know that how I show up is up to me. My preparation not only affects the experience I have on stage, but more importantly, the experience my audience has. It is my responsibility to know what I need to feel prepared for any situation.
When coaching clients, I always say:
“Plan for the unexpected and you won't be surprised or thrown off when it happens.”
There are so many things that could throw you off your game:
The tech won’t work, and you don’t have a paper copy of your presentation or printed notes.
The number of attendees is more or less than you planned.
The room is bigger or smaller than you anticipated.
A colleague you really respect or admire is in the audience and you are suddenly more nervous because they are there.
You focus too much on reading your slides or notes and not making any eye contact.
You do not believe you belong there.
You are not feeling well, or you are stressed.
You have not actually spoken your speech or presentation out loud.
You try to wing it.
You run out of time or don't have enough content to fill the time you have been given.
Solid preparation of your content and learning tools to help you manage stage fright or imposter syndrome are key to staying present and engaged. If you know your material and you know how to prepare yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally before you even walk in the room, your odds of success go up exponentially.
Think about how you show up. What do you need to do to feel more confident and prepared?
Let me know if I can help… You’ve got this.
Cassandra
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