Redefining Stage Fright – A Powerful Lesson in Overcoming Public Speaking Fear

She stepped up to the stage. She took the mic.
“I…I’m sorry I think I’m really 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀…”
What do you think happened next?

I was in the audience when this happened.

This was a well respected senior leader in her industry.
She was asked to deliver a keynote speech
To an audience of about 200 people
outside of her company.

To be honest,
I was 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱
and 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 on her behalf.

It was the stuff of nightmares.

She was standing on the podium. Almost frozen. Trembling a little.

You could hear it in her voice.

𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿.

She blurted out:
“This is my first time…talking on a stage…to so many people…”

The audience BURST into applause.

I looked around.
Smiling faces. Attentive faces. Faces that wanted her to succeed.

I looked back at her.
She was smiling.
She blinked a few times.
And then courageously started introducing herself.

She stumbled a few times after that too.
This isn’t Hollywood.

But each time that she stopped, people listened.
No one rushed her.
She took her time and made it through.

And got the standing ovation that she deserved.

This made me realize
that the audience is 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲.

This one realization
turns
a sea of anonymous, intimidating faces
into
a crowd of people who are cheering you on.

Are you scared of public speaking? Or were you scared till you overcame your fears?
Would love to know!