When we have practiced something so well that we no longer need to think about it, subconscious processing systems are at work.<\/p>\n

We choke under pressure because being in front of an audience is a novel \u00a0condition that can thwart the normal brain processing of tasks that are so well learned they have become “automatic.”<\/p>\n

So if we slow down to focus on these “automated” actions, we can thwart those processes, tripping ourselves up.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s what you need to do to minimize your stage fright:<\/p>\n

Be well rehearsed…<\/h3>\n

…which means you should rehearse under performance-like pressure. Rehearsal transfers your words and ideas from the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for higher order conscious thought, \u00a0to your cerebellum, which orchestrates the lightning fast motor activation needed to perform complex actions, like speaking to crowds, teaching your fingers to play a new piece of music, or learning your lines for a play.<\/p>\n

Rehearsal is the work, performance is the play, and rehearsing under performance-like pressure acclimates you to the pressure of public speaking.<\/p>\n

Don’t Concentrate…<\/h3>\n

…The cerebellum is responsible for orchestrating lightning fast recollection of your words and intentions when you\u2019re speaking, but it\u2019s not reliable. \u00a0You can\u2019t knock on its door and say, \u201cOk, cerebellum, I\u2019m ready to speak. \u00a0Open up and do your thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The science is clear. If you don\u2019t want to choke, don\u2019t monitor your own performance. \u00a0Be well-rehearsed, trust yourself, and get on with it. \u00a0Well-meaning people will tell you to slow down. \u00a0Don\u2019t do it. \u00a0Dive in with both feet. It\u2019ll keep your feet out of your mouth.<\/p>\n

Give yourself one-word instruction…<\/h3>\n

…Psychologists have established that one-word instruction to yourself when you\u2019re under pressure generates the best performance. \u00a0Watch professional golfers. \u00a0Once they line up the putt, they\u2019re ready to send the ball toward the hole. \u00a0Instructing your brain to remember to breathe, smile, stand up straight, slow down, and look at the audience will result in a disaster. \u00a0Choose one word to be your guardian angel, something like, \u201cRelax,\u201d or \u201cFun,\u201d or \u201cSmooth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The most effective approaches imbue the performers with the feeling that they can handle any adversity.<\/p>\n

But you don\u2019t want to be over-confident. \u00a0When you get to the front of the room and get hit with a thousand pairs of eyes, it can knock the stuffing out of you.<\/p>\n

The bottom line? \u00a0Ratchet up the pressure at your practice sessions. \u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s the best\u00a0way to avoid failing when it counts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we have practiced something so well that we no longer need to think about it, subconscious processing systems are at work. We choke under pressure because being in front of an audience is a novel \u00a0condition that can thwart the normal brain processing of tasks that are so well learned they have become “automatic.”… Read More »3 Steps to Stop Stage Fright<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":""},"categories":[24,461],"tags":[88,58,916],"yoast_head":"\n