Some people are natural-born performers. They thrive in front of an audience, comfortable and confident and relaxed.
For most of us, being the center of attention takes some getting used to. And some people get so nervous they can hardly speak. Dry mouth. Wet palms. Red face. Maybe that’s familiar to you?
When speaking is scary, you just want to avoid being at the front of the room. You find yourself hiding, and you can miss out on opportunities to be hired or promoted or chosen.
Stage fright actually makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint. All those eyeballs staring at you? If you were in the wild, you’d be prey.
But you’re in a conference room. Or a classroom. Or a hotel meeting room. You have a chance to shine. And nervousness will get in the way. What to do about it?
A lot of experts will tell you to just stop it. I say there’s a better approach.
Very impressive. You never cease to amaze me!
Thanks, Cindy! Glad you liked it. You know that including video in my newsletter is, well, a bit of a challenge for me. But all the experts say video is what people want. So here it is. I hope I can continue to amaze.
Energy it is! Great visual for me to keep in mind. Thanks, Catherine!
Yes. And the energy can be a huge help in connecting with your listeners, Cindy. Let it flow …
Thank you for this “butterflies” comment video clip. Wish I had known about this energy back when I had to speak in front of coworkers at a professional meeting years ago. I will try to remember it in the future. I also have your book Show Up and Shine to refer to. I enjoyed hearing your voice again in this clip.
Thank YOU, Stephen. I’m so glad you found it useful. I think it helps to reframe nervousness as energy that can support you. (And I love it when someone remembers my voice from my radio days!)