Conquering Stage Fear...

This is one problem which has to be faced by everyone at some point of his/er life. Let's don't say it a problem because it is more of an opportunity to grow as a personal and professional being. Yes the very thought of facing hundreds of people could be terrifying but it could be conquered with practice. I will not give you a set of instructions to be followed to remove stage fear, neither it is possible. You can never completely remove that fear but for sure can win over that fear and make a lasting impact on the audience with practice. I will share with you my own story which can help you overcome the stage fear and believe that anyone can do it with a little self confidence and faith on oneself.

It was starting of my class 11 and I was to deliver a speech in the morning assembly. That time the thing which a hated most about the speeches was mugging up the script. This was one thing which I could never do. So I decided that I will make key terms, carry the list to podium and utter whatever comes to my mind at that point of time. So I just read my hard prepared script for a couple of times and went on to the stage to sit beside other speakers with in mind 'ke ab jo hoga so dekh lenge'. The first speaker, a boy of class 9 gave a stunning speech then the next speaker another boy of class 10 gave an average speech and then came my turn. I confidently walked up to the podium, took out my chit and looked up towards an audience of nearly 1000. It hitted me hard. Suddenly my nerves took over me and I found myself baffling over the very first line of my speech. I somehow started to speak and kept on speaking whatever came to my mind at that point of time. I took lots of long pauses between the speech and somehow managed to complete the speech. I came back feeling embarrassed. My co-speakers were encouraging and said that I did fairly well but you know the difference between genuine appreciation and sympathy. That guilt of embarrassment spoiled my whole day. Now I was determined to undo this wrong. I once again volunteered as a speaker and managed to get a date of after 3 weeks. Now once again I was to deliver a speech and the major problem was hard learning the speech. So this time I decided to do something that could not drain my mind out of ideas. I took the most common topic "Success". Firstly I prepared the key terms and built upon the whole script upon it without taking any help of internet or books. Because I wanted that it contain only my ideas so that I don't have to learn it by heart. By the day of my speech term came, I was completely prepared. That day I was the only speaker as after that some prize distribution was to be held for some boys. I don't know from where some supernatural power came to me and I delivered a fantastic speech with so much of confidence that my audience was dumbstruck. They could not believe I was the same guy who stammered so much on mike. I was really happy that day because I received compliment from the boys who could never have spoken well for me. I was humbled.

After some days I was analyzing how have I completed my journey from a very dumb speaker to model speaker, I realized these things:-

1. Actually public speaking is an overrated fear. To some people it seems to be the end of the world if they don't speak well (I was one of them). You have to realize you screw up things before doing it perfectly.

2. You must have clarity of thought and must be confident enough to express it because only two things can happen. First is that you are right or second is you are wrong. Nothing is offensive either. If you right then it is good but if you are wrong you will be corrected and you will never be wrong again. I hope this can help you remove the hesitation of expression.

3. Initially, don't worry much about the content because the confidence reflected in your style of speaking makes the lasting impression.

I hope this could help you. Please share your views in the comment box. Thank you......