Stage fright is not about the stage.

Tried speech delivery techniques that didn’t work? These simple tools will reframe your mind.

Do you have stage fright?

If you felt your whole body posture shrink by merely thinking about it, stick around; you might discover new techniques beyond delivery and practice to help you conquer your fear.

The stage isn’t the problem.

I mean it.

Unless serious psychological issues are at play, the stage isn’t the problem.

Meet Michelle, a top executive who’s very successful in her work but would rather face a lion than stand on stage.

She said: “Leopold, I built a great PowerPoint presentation. I have to leave an impression on this new client, but I’m paralyzed by stage fright. Can you help?”

Instead of diving into her slides, I asked her to tell me more about her ideas. Turns out, she knew her facts, but she didn’t know how to structure her thoughts.

Her fear is rooted in her lack of structure.

When your ideas aren’t grounded in a logical structure that elicits emotions and demonstrates credibility, they will float aimlessly, making you feel like you’re walking on a tightrope without a safety net.

You can’t stand on stage until you know how ideas stand in your mind.

Turn your presentation into an invitation.

A presentation isn’t just a recitation of facts; it’s an invitation.

You invite them to your world; they join to find their needs.

Once you build that bridge between your mind and the audience, you will create deep connections and feel confident to share your ideas.

Here’s a simple example:

How often have you heard a speaker say: “Today, I’m going to share….”

The audience’s implicit answer is usually, “I don’t care. What’s in it for me?”

Instead, say: “Today, YOU will learn….”

Notice that it’s not just an issue of words but structure.

Using “YOU” instead of “I” requires you to understand your audience's needs, wants, and the benefits they will gain by listening to you.

This simple switch will help you build the bridge. Now, you have more confidence on stage precisely because you know things about your audience that they probably forgot about themselves.

Content requires context

Ask yourself, “Who am I? Why am I the one presenting these ideas?”

Can your presence on stage be replaced by someone else?

Understanding your unique perspective and the value you bring to the conversation is critical to owning your credibility on stage.

Whatever the content you present, tailor it to your context — your world!

When you’re genuine and authentic, your audience will sense it, making them more receptive to your ideas and more likely to remember your message.

Here’s a simple technique:

• What lesson did you learn while studying the facts of your presentation?
• Can you share a quick story that embodies your learning?
• Can you think of an analogy that crystallizes your main point?

See that?

Clarity breeds courage and confidence.

Once you build a structure based on logic, emotions, and credibility (bless you, Aristotle), stage fright becomes stage flow: Your senses are heightened; You, your audience, and the stage feel like one harmonious voice.

Try these simple techniques, and let me know how it goes. I would love to help.

Remember this:

To command the stage, you must first conquer your ideas.