TIPS ON HOW TO OVERCOME STAGE FRIGHT IN ANY PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENT

TIPS ON HOW TO OVERCOME STAGE FRIGHT IN ANY PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENT

1. Arrive the venue before the scheduled time of the event and familiarise yourself with

the environment and possibly, exchange pleasantries with at least, a few members of your audience. Do you get shy when you talk with people you are familiar with?

2. Look above the sea of heads. If you must look into the eyes or faces of your audience, begin with one person at a time. Preferably, someone sitting in front or close to where you're standing or sitting. From one, you can graduate to two, three, four....Before the end of your presentation, you can boldly stare at numerous faces as you score your points. 

3. Start with a joke. Get your audience to laugh at something. As they do, you do too. This will establish a cord of friendship that will provide the needed ease for you to flow. If it's a funeral or pathetic event, do not apply this. Rather, you can start with a sigh, groan or an exclamation. By doing any of that, you have established a "common ground" with your 

audience. 

When you exercise this point, you get your audience nodding their heads, applauding and 

could even give you a standing ovation. Who gets shy at this point? This will also build your confidence.

4. Get them to do something. You can ask them to stand, clap, wave, or just do anything.

Their compliance will boost your confidence and assures you that you are in charge. Who ever gets timid over someone or thing under his control?

5. No matter the haste, observe at least 5-10 seconds of silence after you mount the rostrum or handle the microphone before you begin your speech. This will help you coordinate your thoughts and keep you in control over the eventual flow of your words.

ENROLL NOW FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING TRAINING, SPEECH & CREATIVE WRITING @ BK LIBRARY, MURTALA MUHAMMED HIGHYWAY BY SPC JUNCTION, CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE.

Anthony Ekpo Bassey,(B.A, M.sc)

Public Speaking Trainer