Building ConfidenceOr Don’t let stage fright get the best of

you……

Famous People With Stage FrightRod Stewart – rock musicianDonny Osmond – pop singer, actor and

Dancing With the Stars 2009 ChampionBarbra Streisand – singer, actress, director,

producerAndrea Bocelli – singer, performerSir Winston Churchill – Prime Minister of

England during WWII (many of his speeches are quoted)

Scarlett Johansson - actress

These people suffer from performance anxiety:

Understanding Stage FrightMany people suffer from stage fright

(performance anxiety).It begins with mental tension, then carries

over to our body and creates physical tension.

It occurs because: We want to perform well and make a good

impression. We worry that we may not be successful.

Helpful or Harmful?The tension created gives you more energy.Use this extra energy to give a more dynamic

presentation.Sometimes we focus too much on the

physical symptoms (dry mouth, stomach butterflies) and allow them to snowball making our confidence decrease.

Remember……Stage Fright feels worse than it

looks.

Most audiences can’t see “the fear” that you feel.

Audiences want you to do well. They really do.

Practice and prepare.

Positive versus Negative Self Talk“I can’t do this. This is going to be awful.”“I will look like a fool up there.”“Everyone is going to laugh at me.”Statements like these add to your fear and

make the situation worse. Remember to put the situation into

perspective.You are not performing brain surgery.The world will not end if you mess up.Life will go on.

Instead…Choose what you will think.Pick your thoughts like you would a good

meal at a fancy restaurant.“I have what it takes to be a good speaker.”“I have practiced and prepared well for this

presentation.”“The people in the audience are nice and will

support me.”“ I will do a great job!”

Create a confidence resumeMake a list of strengths that you have right

now.Use positive and powerful descriptionsInclude specific accomplishments that make

you proud.Include ways that you have overcome

obstacles or challenges in your life.

Some ideas to include…You have been placed in charge of your

siblings or entrusted as a babysitter.You got the highest grade in the class on a

very hard test.You understood a difficult concept in science

or math and were able to explain it to a peer.You were in a clutch situation in a sporting

event and came through in a positive way.You helped someone in a medical crisis.

Sources ConsultedDecker, Eric. "Stage Fright - Class

Overheads." August 2004.

Kevin Roby, PhD., MGCP. drkevinroby.com. August 2009. 5 February 2010 <http://www.drkevinroby.com>.

O'Connor, J. Regis. Speech: Exploring Communication. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1988.