How to Gain Confidence as a Speaker

Unfortunately, not only stage actors succumb to stage fright; any person attempting to speak to a group may experience this unfortunate form of anxiety. It can be difficult to work through stage fright once it has set in, but learning some of the following things about stage fright, and following some positive practices and strategies, will assist you in becoming a confident public speaker, able to deal with stage fright when and as it happens.

Start with Small, Familiar Audiences

Whether you experience stage fright because you are new to public speaking, or you’re a prolific speaker experiencing a recent bout of stage fright, know that it is a common and natural response. Speaking in front of a small, supportive group of friends, family or colleagues may help ease your anxiety. In this more intimate environment, you should inadvertently be more at ease and able to laugh at yourself if anything happens to go wrong. 

Actors sometimes experience something called corpsing; the moment they break character and start laughing at themselves or the situation. Corpsing is not ideal, and they may take a while to regain their composure and character, but more often than not it creates a very memorable moment for the audience. Recognizing the feeling that comes with laughing at yourself and conjuring it again when you have stage fright in front of a larger group, should help you work through the stage fright more efficiently in the moment.

Embrace Mistakes

Stuttering, misspeaking or mispronouncing a word, forgetting a word, or an accidental repetition or omission, all these things are occupational hazards when it comes to public speaking. Even experienced speakers go through this from time to time and they use this trick when experiencing stage fright to remind themselves of all the reasons they have to be confident. 

When this happens, the best thing to do is to gracefully acknowledge your mistake, perhaps with a joke or a quip, if appropriate, and continue with your presentation. When actors forget their lines, they rely on a technique called ad-lib in order to improvise until the next cue reminds them of their next line. Ad-libbing can also be a useful technique for speakers to use to overcome an awkward moment of transition. It gives them a moment to adjust but also keeps the audience engaged.

Embrace the Pause

A moment of silence on stage may feel like forever, but the use of strategic pauses during your presentation will allow the magic to flow. Not only does this pause give you a moment to collect your thoughts, reorganize your key points, center yourself, and regain your composure, but it’s also a chance for the audience to reflect, process, and engage with what they have heard.

Comedy stage actors are taught to “wait for the laugh”. Once the actor has delivered a line that they know will get a laugh, they immediately implement a dramatic pause. There may be a moment of silence before the auditorium is filled with laughter, because it may take the audience a moment to process. The actor then waits for the laughter to subside before continuing with their next line.

Prepare Thoroughly and Know Your Material

Proper preparation is key to building confidence when speaking in public. Rehearsing your speech or presentation multiple times until you feel comfortable with the content and flow will also inject you with a boost of confidence.

Learning their lines by heart is one of the first things an actor does when they get a new script. Reading it over and over, deciding where in words the inflections will be placed and what tone of voice to use. If they do method acting, they become that person and know everything about them. Having a deep understanding of your specific topic will give you confidence when speaking to your audience, and also make it easier to handle unexpected questions or interruptions.

Record and Evaluate your Presentations

Stage actors have to constantly rehearse their lines and blocking, and get notes from the director in order to improve their performance. In the same way, recording and reviewing your presentations can help you identify areas in your overall presentation that call for improvement.

Looking at yourself the way the audience sees you, you will start to take note of your body language, tone of voice, and delivery style. Does it come across as awkward or confident, professional or casual? Analyzing your performance objectively, or asking another speaker for notes, can help you grow as a speaker.

Develop a Speaking Ritual

Establishing a pre-speech ritual can help eliminate nervousness and get you into the right mindset for speaking. It could be something as simple as deep breathing exercises, listening to uplifting music, or reciting positive affirmations. Having a ritual can provide you with a sense of calm, familiarity, and comfort before taking the stage to present.

Stage actors have a variety of rituals they use before starting a performance. Firstly, they always arrive early at the venue. The hours before their performance are spent backstage ensuring all props are in the correct places, lights and sound are working and ready to go,  and doing vocal exercises and warm-up exercises. Some actors choose to meditate or do yoga to get into the zone. Whatever the pre-ritual, its purpose is to set you off on the right foot for the presentation.

Nerves vs Excitement

Being nervous when about to go on stage is a very common feeling. Nervous energy is a wonderful asset because energy can be converted. Having nerves before a presentation can actually give you an adrenaline rush, something which is much needed at that moment when walking onto the stage. 

Reframing your nervousness as excitement will allow you the opportunity to have positive feelings before going onto the stage. Recognizing that the adrenaline rush from the nerves can actually make your presentation more engaging and energetic is a game-changer.

Understand the Purpose of Fear

Fear is an incredibly powerful emotion that can sometimes take hold at the most unexpected of times. If you’re in a public-speaking situation, it is important to remember that stage fright is a very common and natural response. You’re not dying, your body and mind are just experiencing a synchronized moment of anxiety. What may feel like hours to you, will feel like mere seconds for your audience. 

Once this is recognized, you have a moment in time to step back and remind yourself that the ultimate purpose of fear is to create an opportunity for growth. Whenever you experience fear, it is your mind giving you the opportunity to step into yourself, to claim your power, to step through your fear, and out on the other side.

Seek Professional Training

Enrolling in public speaking courses or workshops is an opportunity to enhance your already amazing skills. Professional trainers, like those at Sail Force Catalyst, will provide you with valuable guidance, personalized feedback, and unwavering support. They will also teach you specific techniques to help you overcome stage fright and grow your confidence.

Overcoming stage fright is a journey within yourself. It is natural to feel a little nervous . . . ahem, excited when you’re about to start a presentation, but remembering some of the positive practices mentioned above will help you turn your stage fright into a positive. Being consistent and persistent in your efforts and your pursuit of growth will help you develop a positive mindset, which is a major building block when it comes to self-confidence. With perseverance, self-belief, and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone, you can become a confident, compelling, and impactful speaker.