Paralyzing Stage Fright Transforms To Ease & Humor

Problem:

Phd. candidate suffers debilitating stage fright, nearly-vomiting before speaking, suffering anxiety, and experiences huge stress days before speaking. Their tendencies are to be overly technical, verbose, physically tense, and avoid eye contact.Two projects loom: the thesis defense and a student seminar.

“Suffering anxiety, and experiences huge stress days before speaking…”

Solution:

First phase: Over a period of 3-4 months the client regularly applies a combination of psycho-physical release exercises, breathing exercises, to instill new breathing reflexes and ‘support’ for speaking, reducing physical roots of speaking anxiety. A 20 minute daily practice routine is established and maintained. The voice becomes more free, and re-connects to natural projection.

“The voice becomes more free, and re-connects to natural projection.”

Second phase: Focus moved to eloquent delivery of technical materials, and the development of the candidate’s sense of humor through storytelling. Techniques included tonal ‘color’ development, exaggeration of gestures to break the self-imposed limitations, and habits of physical expression in a non-threatening context. Video taping of sessions emphasized immediate recognition and changes.

A top-of-the class speaker emerged at the end of training; fearless, hilarious, and effective. The thesis was successfully defended, PhD. earned, easily spoke in media spots with CBC and other national media, and received a placement with their research facility of choice.