by Marc Adams

Created on: June 01, 2009   Last Updated: June 06, 2009

Your fear can hinder you, or it can help you!

One of the greatest fears among people is public speaking. Some people are natural on a stage, relaxed, in control, comfortable. But countless others are terrified at the thought of even standing in front of a crowd, much less talking to an audience. But this stage fright does not have to hinder us when those times come that we do need to address a crowd. In fact, that fear, if properly used, can actually help us become more exceptional communicators.

According to Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, stage fright arises in a mere anticipation of a performance, often a long time ahead. It has numerous manifestations: fluttering or pounding heart, tremor in the hands and legs, diarrhea, facial nerve tics, dry mouth. Stage fright may be observed in people of all experience and background, from beginners to professionals.

Stage fright, or fear of public speaking, isn't only found in beginners or inexperienced speakers. We all get nervous, and if we don't learn to control those nerves, we can struggle in our quest to effectively impact our audience. So how can we use our fear to help us instead of hinder us? Here are some tips:

1. Know your speech inside and out. If you show up very well prepared, it will take much of the fear out of your talk. Lack of preparation is scary. I sometimes have a dream where I am walking on a stage to speak, having not prepared anything. I wake up fearful, because for methat's frightening. Most speakers are at their best when they are most prepared, so do your homework, come ready (really ready), and your fear will lessen.

2. Use your fear to make you better. I actually think nervousness is a good thing. Butterflies in your stomach shows that you care. It says, I want to do my best here. Show me a speaker who never feels the butterflies and I'll show you a speaker who doesn't care whether or not they make an impact. I use my nervous energy to make me better.

For starters, I use it to motivate me to prepare as well as I can. I know how scary it is to take the stage unprepared, so I make sure that doesn't happen by pushing myself. I also use the energy by actually feeding it during my presentation. I turn the nervousness into enthusiasm; enthusiasm in my words, gestures, and overall presentation. This makes me more effective, because enthusiasm is contagious, and audiences respond to it very well.

3. Start off right. I use a funny story (usually something really stupid that I've done) to kick things

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