If you ever find yourself in front of an audience, here are three things that I believe will be helpful to you!
This came up a few days ago in a conversation with my daughters as they were getting ready for an amazing performance.
(They are the oldest 2 of our 4 kids and in case you didn’t know — they are amazing singers and I’d take any opportunity to brag about them!)
We were talking about feeling nervous about a performance in front of a large audience and how to deal with that.
This is for you if you’re ever in front of an audience as a speaker, an artist, or maybe for a presentation at work.
It doesn’t matter if the audience is large or small – the same principles work in every situation.
1. First of all, be OK with being nervous.
You will probably be able to relate to getting a bit of the jitters. Sweat breaking out, heartbeat racing, and before you know if you feel nervous about being nervous.
If you’re OK with being nervous, your audience will be OK with it too.
In fact, they will probably admire you for doing this in spite of your nervousness!
2. Secondly, this is not about you!
I know this sounds weird, but it’s not about you.
It’s about your audience.
You have prepared for this moment.
You have done everything you needed to do in order to be ready and now you’re here to give your audience an amazing experience.
Your job is to create value for your audience.
This perspective will help you shift from you and your nervousness to your audience and the value they will receive because of you!
“When I finish speaking, I don’t want you to look at me and say, he’s amazing. When I finish speaking, I want you to look at yourself and say, I’m amazing.”
— John Maxwell
3. Thirdly: breathe.
Take a deep breather.
Right before you get started, the moment you get up, and keep breathing during all of it.
Not the shallow breathing in your chest, but the type of breathing that is called belly breathing.
The next time you’re in front of a large group of people, and you’re asking yourself why on earth did I sign up to do this?
Remember these three points:
- Be OK with being nervous
- It’s not about you – it’s about your audience
- Keep breathing and enjoy every moment!
You’re here because you love it, and you know you will.
Let me know if this was helpful, or share with a friend if you think this could be helpful to them as well!
Keep breathing — you got this!