Conquer Stage Fright: 5 Simple Tips To Speak With Confidence

Conquer Stage Fright: 5 Simple Tips To Speak With Confidence

Watch the original video here: YouTube - Conquer Stage Fright

Feeling your heart race and your palms sweat before a presentation is common. Studies suggest roughly 75 percent of people experience some form of stage fright. The good news, you can turn that nervous energy into confident performance with a few practical shifts in breathing, preparation, mindset, attention, and delivery.

What stage fright feels like

Stage fright shows up in the body and the mind: a racing heart, sweaty hands, shaky or stuck voice, fuzzy thinking, even nausea. Mentally, it can spiral into perfectionism and self doubt. Remember, when you speak in front of others you are giving a performance in the simplest sense, the execution of an action. Your goal is to accomplish the task and land the message for your audience.

A quick reframe

Nerves and excitement feel similar in the body. Think of a first date or your wedding day, butterflies, dry mouth, extra energy, but positive anticipation. Reframe your nerves as nervous excitement, not dread.

5 tips to overcome stage fright

1. Breathe from the diaphragm
   Anxiety pushes breathing high into the chest, which fuels panic and tightens your voice. Slow, deep belly breaths will lower your heart rate, clear your thoughts, and stabilize your tone. Take a few measured breaths before you speak, then keep your breath steady while presenting.

2. Prepare with intention
   Practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. Know your material so well that it rolls off your tongue. You do not need a memorized script, but you should be fluent in your outline, transitions, and key examples, so you can focus on the audience and the message.

3. Use positive self talk and visualization
   What you tell yourself becomes your outcome. Replace “I am nervous” with “I am excited for this opportunity.” Replace “I am going to mess up” with “I have got this.” Close your eyes and visualize a successful talk, an engaged audience, and appreciative conversations afterward.

4. Shift the spotlight to the audience
   When you fixate on how you are coming across, you get more nervous. Ask, are they getting what they came for? Focus on clarity, value, and connection. This shift reduces self consciousness and raises impact.

5. Tell stories
   Stories make your message memorable and relatable. Brief, relevant anecdotes help listeners understand and care. Even simple personal examples can transform a point into something people remember and share.

Final encouragement

Feeling nervous is normal. Do not let it hold you back. With each repetition, your comfort zone expands and your confidence grows. Practice the five tips, record yourself to review progress, and keep showing up.

Watch the original video for a recap and more context: