SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSstSage SSSSSTfright 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 Fright
Communication 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 Phobia
An 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 you experience a
mental blackout?

 Did your heart beat

faster than usual?

 Did you feel your blood

rushing to your head and to
your cheeks?
 Were you at a loss for
breath?

 Was there a sensation of

butterflies flitting in your
stomach?

 Were you perspiring

more than usual?
 Were your hands cold?
 Were your hands trembling?

 Was your body tense?

Did you lose your voice?

 Symptoms of Stage Fright
You are suffering from stage fright if you have:

Dry mouth Tight throat Sweaty hands Cold hands

Give me a hand
Shaky hands (Oops, I couldn't Nausea (Sickness) Fast pulse
resist)

Shaky knees Trembling lips

Punjabians
 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
 CAUSES
Inadequate preparation
Fear of being judged
Unfamiliarity with the audience or the

environment
Lack of knowledge about public speaking
Feelings of inadequacy
Fear of the unknown
Negative past experiences
 Anxiety

 Itis an unusual fearful

feeling that everyone
goes through when
faced with an
important task.
QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPEECH ANXIETY
1- NONE 2- VERY SLIGHTLY 3- SLIGHTLY
4- 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- SLIGHTLY
4- 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- SLIGHTLY
4- 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- SLIGHTLY
4- 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 CAN YOU OVERCOME
STAGE FRIGHT?
 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”.
 HOW YOU CAN DO IT…

+ Be extremely well prepared

+ Organize your speaking notes
+ Absolutely memorize your opening statement
+ If you have to Practice, practice, practice.
+ Especially practice bits so you can spit out a
few minutes of your program no matter how
nervous you are.
+ Anticipate hard and easy questions
+ Stay calm, cool, and positive
+ Smile now and then, and maintain eye contact
 HOW YOU CAN DO IT…
• Arrive to the venue early.
• Yawn to relax your throat.
• Doodle.
• Breathe deeply, evenly, and slowly
for several minutes.
• Don't drink caffeinated drinks.
• Keep water by your side.
• Go somewhere private and warm up
your voice, muscles, etc.
Strategies for
Reducing
Stage Fright

Punjabians
 Visualisation Strategies
• 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.
Punjabians
 Strategies in Advance of Program
• 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. Punjabians
Strategies Just before the Presentation
• 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.

Punjabians
 Strategies When the Presentation Begins
• 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.
Punjabians
 On-Camera Techniques
• 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.
Punjabians
 Skills and Attitude to Conquer Stage Firght
• 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.

Punjabians
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
 Tips for a great presentation…
Speak Up! Make sure to speak a little louder
than normal conversation when you are giving
your speech. Project your voice.
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 prepared, and have a print out of your slides
in front of you even if you do not refer to it!
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 Tips
Control 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