Stage fright: I never feel like I have prepared enough

Preparation is key – that's the mantra for anyone getting set for a presentation or media interview.

But how much preparation is enough?

And how long before the fear of being underprepared is so strong that you head into your public speaking engagement with a great deal of trepidation.

Some people start to get the shivers, break out in sweaty palms or their hearts start pounding, especially at the thought of being asked difficult questions they don’t have answers for.

If this is you, the reason you feel this way might surprise you. It traces back to a very positive attribute indeed: your integrity.

Some people have an outsized sense of commitment. They are the sort of people who keep even small promises like their lives depended on it. They find it difficult to say ‘no’ when someone assigns them a task, they apologise profusely in the unlikely event they ever run late, and they lose sleep over missing a deadline.

Of course, it’s good you prepare for media and public speaking opportunities!

But if your worry looms so large that it robs you of your confidence, and you suffer the very visible symptoms of stage fright, you and your audience are also poorly served.

So, it’s worth asking yourself how to maintain your reputation for being a trustworthy and reliable spokesperson, while simultaneously quietening your stage fright.

The answer again lies in your sense of responsibility. Even if you fully researched absolutely every detail about a topic would you even have the opportunity to deliver it? And even if you could deliver everything you know about a topic, could your audience absorb it?

Have you considered you might be gushing with way too much technical detail which obfuscates, rather than clarifies your point?

Decide when enough preparation really is enough. You will probably find that your responsibility is already met when you have delivered enough information to make an impact, but not so much that your audience can’t remember it.

Talk to me about our CliftonStrengths-based media skills and executive presence workshops.