How do I overcome Stage Fright?

Stage fright. If it's something that holds you back from stepping in front of an audience, presenting your ideas, and making sure your voice is heard, then you have to work on it.

I've had the honor of sharing stages with people like Michelle Obama, Pep Guardiola, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many other incredible figures. And I can tell you one thing: no matter how far I've come in overcoming my stage fright, I still felt nervous in those moments. Anxiety was creeping up. But I've learned to manage that anxiety and that's what it's all about. You've got to be able to deliver to the best of your abilities, and that's exactly what I can do today.

What I want to share with you is a five-step framework I developed that helped me get here. It can help you too.

Step 1: Create a Vision for Yourself

You need a goal, and you've got to be a little bold about it. If you want to be someone who can speak in front of an audience, set that target. Maybe it's delivering a presentation to your boss, giving a TED Talk, or performing in a theatre - whatever it is, define it clearly.

Once you have that goal, you can break it down. What are the steps you need to take to get there? That clarity is everything.

Step 2: Focus on Your Superpowers

Understand what you're great at. Everyone is unique. Everyone has strengths. And when you know yours, you can weave them into your communication, and that is truly powerful.

For me, one of my superpowers is my look. Yes, the Afro. You might think, "What's so special about that?" But let's be honest, some companies have hired me partly because of my appearance. We can debate whether that's the "right" reason to get hired, but here's my take: it puts money in my pocket. It's a superpower that works for me.

But, of course, I have others. I love telling stories. If I'm working from a script, it's really difficult for me to remember every line. But if I have a story, I just need one word and I know exactly what to talk about. That's a superpower.

Understand yours. Understand how you can bring them into your communication. That's how you start stepping up your game.

Step 3: Bravery Training

If you want to grow in the areas of communication, presentations, and public speaking, and you want to overcome stage fright, then you should work on becoming a more confident and, yes, a little braver person.

What could that look like? If you've never jumped out of a plane, try skydiving. If you're afraid of heights, start climbing - it's very safe with a harness and ropes, but you still have to face that fear. Maybe try bungee jumping.

The point is to do something that grows your confidence in one area of your life, because that confidence will translate into the world of communication as well. And I'm not saying you only need to do this once. Take on multiple challenges. Create a bravery calendar. As you tick things off, you'll start to feel that incredible sense of I can do things I never thought I could.

Step 4: Manage Your Anxiety

This is where we specifically work on your stage fright. First, you need to understand that every person is different, which is exactly why I've collected a list of over 30 different techniques drawn from research, conversations, and my own experience.

These techniques fall into three brackets.

The days and weeks before the event. In the lead-up, you want to regularly practise things like manifestation, telling yourself that you will be successful during the speaking engagement. Or visualisation: walking out on that stage, looking the audience straight in the eye, smiling, hearing the applause. These practices need consistency to have an effect.

The hours before the event. This bracket starts the night before. You need to be very conscious of what you're doing. One person once told me she would always sleep as little as possible because then she'd be so tired she'd fall asleep easily and be "ready" to deliver. The problem? If you don't sleep enough, your brain can't work at its best and you're actually hurting yourself. Getting a full night's sleep is essential when you have a big day ahead.

Beyond sleep, there are other techniques you can use in those final hours. Meditation in the morning works well for many people. I love what Tony Robbins does with cold plunge pools - it takes a lot of guts, but it pulls you out of your head and into your body. A walk in the morning is another great option. Personally, I love a good workout beforehand (with enough time to cool down), because getting physical works really well for me.

Right in the moment. Some people get brain freeze on stage and it's horrible. You can't remember what you wanted to say. The solution? Notes. Well-prepared notes on a device like an iPad Mini look professional, curated, and modern. I always say it's better to deliver a speech well with notes than poorly without them.

And there are plenty of other in-the-moment techniques. I can get sweaty on stage, for instance. There are gels and creams you can apply, but they're not the healthiest option, so they're a last resort for me. My go-to? A glass of ice-cold water. I can hold it on stage for a few moments, and the coolness in my palm helps me calm down.

Everyone's different. The goal is to find the techniques that work for you.

Step 5: Practise and Prepare

This is a key step. I once worked with a student whose stage fright was so severe he couldn't sleep before a presentation. When I assessed his work and saw the state of his slides, I understood the problem immediately. He showed me his classmate's presentation, the benchmark, and then showed me his own. He knew his work wasn't up to standard. And that's the thing: how can you feel great about presenting something you know isn't fantastic? You're sabotaging yourself.

The answer is to create world-class content. When you know your material is excellent, your confidence follows.

These are the five steps that will help you become a more confident communicator and overcome your stage fright. But here's what you need to understand: it's not a one-time fix. You don't nail one event and magically the fear is gone. You need a string of successful experiences to build that confidence. With every small win along the way, you're getting over stage fright bit by bit.

If I can do it, so can you. Let's go out and beat that stage fright.

Want the full list of 30+ strategies to manage your anxiety on stage? Send us an email at helpinghand@flo-akinbiyi.com and we'll send them straight to you.