You're struggling with stage fright. What strategies can help you command the stage with confidence?

Reflect on what makes you not so confident once on the stage. Is it the thought of being all alone on the stage? Is it the fear of making eye to eye contact with a live audience? Is it lack of conviction in what you will speak? Do your SWOT analysis and deal with the W and the T. A tip - sometimes in such situations, just step down the stage, take a walk in the aisle, drop a question, feel the audience close and up front. It does make the butterflies vanish !

As someone with a neuroscience background (and former competitive gymnast), I'd recommend breathing (box breathing: breathe in deeply for 4 counts, hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4. Do 4 sets.). If you can take a brisk walk for 20 min before you go on stage, that also lowers anxiety. Put in enough preparation. Envision yourself rocking it! These techniques are quite powerful.

Stage fright can hit even when you are well prepared. Not everyone enjoys being the centre of attention but you may be required to make presentations as part of your role. As an introvert who has found myself having to make many speeches and presentations, I found it easier to do when I assumed the mantle of my ‘official’ role - a bit like acting. My official alter-ego was more confident, relaxed and outgoing and this self-belief comes across when presenting. It really is the fake it until you make it mantra. Pretend to be confident and the audience won’t know the difference. After a few successful presentations you may find that confidence for real.

A night before your big day (presentation, not your wedding), visualize the exact presentation you want to deliver. Visualize the response of audience you desire. Rehearse your speech in your visualization session. Remember, wherever the mind goes the body follows. Be successful in your mind, the body will follow. Your stage movements, your voice, your body language will all exude confidence.

Mental rehearsal is a great workout for your brain as it entices your imagination towards success. Visualize yourself delivering a memorable speech or presentation.

One way to help command the stage with confidence is to picture yourself on stage and delivering your speech successfully. Also, truly having confidence in your capabilities as a public speaker and all the practise you have done is important and you can use that to empower you on stage. Know that you have delivered a successful performance during practice and are fully capable of doing it successfully in that current moment, on stage. Having confidence and courage can allow you to become less nervous and apprehensive and instead focus on delivering the best speech you can and even exceeding your own expectations, as a public speaker.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to use visualizing success for a major presentation or speech as a daily habit. This is profound in several ways: 1. It helps to build the sub-conscious confidence and self esteem in advance. 2. It actually helps garner some cool ideas to add to the speech because you’ve mediated it on many times over and over. 3. It builds gratitude for the opportunity which can often times be the antidote to the anxiety that creeps in. Morning or mid day priming where you put yourself in the position of something big or major you’re working on or looking to accomplish, where you literally imagine the environment, yourself enjoying and being successful in the space, is a major tool to utilize for success.

Imagination plays a major role as a speaker. Do not just appear for the speaking event without taking time to imagine yourself successful on the stage.

Deep breathing helps in reducing anxiety, smooth enhancing mental clarity, etc. Practice deep breathing regularly with a pattern of 4-8-16 can help even more. Inhale on count of 1-4, hold your breath from count 1-8, and gently exhale from count 1-16. Repeat the process for 3-4 times. Gradually we can follow a similar pattern for 5-10-20 and 6-12-24. The ratio of 1:2:4 (inhale:hold:exhale) is chosen because it strikes a balance between oxygen intake, retention for absorption, and controlled release, optimizing the physiological and psychological benefits of the exercise. Following this pattern will allow you to have control over your breath and be more calm.

Deep breathing exercises calm your heart rate and nerves. It's a great way of reducing tension. You can practice doing ten reps of deep breathing while counting from one to ten repeatedly. This also helps get oxygen to your brain resulting in a clear and relaxed feeling.

Deep breathing is one of my best preparation tools. It refreshes your system and allows steady blood flow, hence, reducing panic attacks.

Breathing exercises are a must for relaxation and confidence. This will keep your mind in a good place. Also think of some good affirmations to help you

I absolutely love engaging with the audience every time I speak. I believe that I am not a know-it-all facilitator. But, rather I create an enabling environment for the audience to learn from each other.

In the first ten seconds, seize the audience's attention. My favorite way to do this is to start with a story or "imagine". You can also ask a question or use a provocative quote, although quotes are more supportive than starting. This is because a story or question makes the audience associate their response with you and your presentation. Structure is also important. I like to make the "thesis statement" a question. Establishing through the beginning story the question in the audience's mind and then "going on a quest" throughout the presentation to find the answer is a great way to ensure audience engagement. It makes your entire speech, instead of a lecture, a story with relevance to their lives.

I personally see public speaking not as a performance, but as a conversation. Great orators don't make speeches. They converse with their audience. Richard Allen Greene, a CNN Journalist, said in one of his tedX conferences that « Public Speaking is just a sincere conversation from your heart about something that you are authentically passionate about ». When you engage in a conversation with the audience by asking them questions, by speaking from your heart, but also through the tone of your voice, it becomes easier to connect with them and therefore to engage them in your talk. This considerably reduces stage fright.

Remember that they are humans, just like you. You don't know it all, and they don't know it all. You have something to offer them, and you have the opportunity of getting feedback on the perspectives you are sharing. Engaging the audience can mean that you get to spread the burden by inviting interaction and so you create an enriching experience for all involved.

In the beginning, speak to the audience by simply looking over their heads, giving them the impression that you are looking at them. Over time, you can then look at them directly. Ask them questions and get them to answer. This gets them involved and interested in what you are sharing. Use as many analogies and anecdotes as possible.

Few minutes of Power pose is proven to release testosterone. This will impart confidence and drive in you. Take advantage of it by practicing it for a few minutes before your speech. You can also make your body bigger on the stage by opening your arms while gesturing. This shall also control your stage fright.

In golf, a pre-swing routine is essential. Basically, a few quick steps before hitting the ball to stabilize your mind regardless of the shot. This can include lining up your shot, taking a practice swing, deep breathing, and etc. This is similar for speaking. Nervousness is normal regardless of experience, but reducing that nervousness before the stage can be done through a routine. I like to pray, do some deep breathing, and repeat the first word of my presentation looking for the right "feeling" through inflection to start off. Walk out on stage confidently with a smile and feel free to pause and assess the audience before beginning. These are all useful to establish your role as speaker in both your mind and the minds of the audience.

Use your body language to promote how confident that you are with the speech you have prepared and read over again and again

When addressing your audience, it is important to be flexible about what you have prepared, depending on the audience, but also on circumstances that might be sometimes beyond your reach or that of the organizers. It is important to listen to your audience, to gauge the temperature of the audience and its temperament while speaking and, if necessary, to modify the content of your message, review the structure or even the duration of your speech...to ensure that your audience keeps listening to you. To be able to do this, you need to have mastered your subject beforehand.

Incorporating these five P's – pitch, pace, pause, projection, and passion – into your public speaking can significantly enhance your delivery and captivate your audience. Experiment with different techniques, practice regularly, and pay attention to your audience's response to fine-tune your speaking skills. Maintain a confident posture. Stand up straight, act like you are balancing a book on your head, and your feelings will quickly improve. You will also make a good impression on the audience and how they see you. Tips for becoming a more confident public speaker include speaking slowly and clearly; considering your body language; being authentic; learning from feedback; and – of course – getting plenty of practice in.

All of the comments previously stated here are very good measures to improve one’s skill and to place us in a comfort zone when we speak to and in front of others. While I am aware of and have used many of these, I still believe that many people have a deep fear of looking “foolish” on stage or camera and also not liking the sound of their voice when speaking. The value of speaking in front of a mirror helps a great deal because you see what you look like when you say various words, phrases and the emotions your facial expressions depict. This helps you paint a permanent image in your mind. Along similar lines, I also video myself delivering spoken or sung material and I make audio recordings of various content to study and also memorize.

When you're on that stage, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. It's about your audience—the people you're addressing. They're there because they believe what you have to say matters. They expect to gain something from your words—knowledge, inspiration, entertainment, or perhaps all of the above. By embracing the fact that the focus is on your message and the people you're speaking to, you release the pressure of self-judgment. You shift your focus from worrying about how you're perceived to delivering something valuable to your audience. This shift in perspective is your secret weapon for a calmer, more confident version of you.

I have always used the principle of 5Ws and 2Hs in all speaking engagements. Tell them the Who, What, When, Where, Why as well as How and How much. This makes it easy for them to follow along.

Stage fright comes from a place of being judged. When you have too many eyes focusing on you, the inner voice of the ego silently whispers "You are going to fail". Why does it happen?: - It's in our biology. When too many eyes are on us, it feels like hunters are cornering the hunted. - It's the rush of adrenaline that gives us the flight/fight response. - It raises our blood pressure and races our heart up north. How do you calm down stage fright then? - Micro exposure to stage. Take small roles on stage first that require less speaking. Example: Can you just greet the audience? That is the only way to conquer stage fright. It happens to all of us. But with enough exposure, the effect of fright wanes off. All the best.