Getting over Stage Fright
Hello, I'm Nina, CEO of Labovarde.
Today, I’d like to talk about stage fright. With phone anxiety becoming so common these days, I imagine many people also struggle with presentation anxiety. I often find myself standing in front of large crowds—whether for lectures, business pitches, or meeting presentations.
Back in my student days, I was terrified of public speaking. My voice would shake uncontrollably—what people in Korea often call a "goat voice" presentation. Today, I want to share how I overcame that. Honestly, I was a total bleating goat all the way up to my very first job interview. I even took an intensive crash course at a presentation academy, but things like abdominal breathing, posture, and vocal tone didn't help at all. Those are things you worry about after you stop trembling.
1. Don't memorize a script word-for-word—memorize the sequence of ideas and speak naturally.
Everyone is different, but when I memorize a script, my delivery turns into terrible, wooden acting. Plus, if I stumble once, the whole presentation falls apart. Instead, I only memorize the core points I must deliver and practice free-talking through them about 10 times before going on stage. I usually practice in a quiet voice at a noisy Starbucks near the venue.
2. Get your trembling out of the way early.
If your presentation is at 2 PM, start letting yourself feel nervous at 10 AM. By 2 PM, your body will be too exhausted to shake anymore. Presentation experts often advise taking deep breaths, but if you stay tense all day and only manage your breathing right before going up, it actually helps tone down the jitters. According to psychology books, you gain control over your body when you become consciously aware of your own pulse and breathing. Oh, and don't drink too much caffeine!
3. Imagine the worst-case scenario.
We tremble mainly due to a lack of confidence—feeling like we can't meet our own expectations—or because of perfectionism. Picture the absolute worst-case scenario (e.g., imagining everyone walking out mid-presentation because they're disappointed). Mind-control yourself to realize that as long as it doesn't get that bad, you're completely fine.
4. Present as often as possible.
This goes without saying, but nowadays I can do a 3–5 minute presentation without practicing at all. Even if your job doesn't require much public speaking, doing it repeatedly is the ultimate cure. Even for me, if I take a 1–2 month break from presentations, the nerves come right back.
Conclusion
To be honest, I still get very nervous during major speeches in big auditoriums. But trembling isn't something to be ashamed of—it just shows how much you care and want to do well. Besides, people rarely remember our nervous shakes anyway! The saddest thing is stepping off the stage without saying what you wanted to say just because you were nervous. Life is tough enough as it is, so let's all speak our minds confidently!
