24/08/2026
Are you nervous?
Heart pounding before a big presentation? Stop trying to calm down.
Performance science shows that anxiety and excitement are twins. Your racing pulse isn't a flaw—it's just your body prepping you to perform.
Instead of fighting your nerves, use this simple 3-step pre-speech framework:
Reframe It: Stop saying "I'm nervous." Tell yourself, "I am excited." Your brain believes what you tell it.
Regulate It: Take slow, deep breaths for 60 seconds to steady your body without killing your energy.
Externalize It: Look past your own thoughts, find a few friendly faces in the room, and remember: you're there to serve them, not judge yourself.
As Dale Carnegie said: "Panic is not a disease, but an adrenaline rush. The trick is to take that energy and make it work for you."
The Science:
* Anxiety Reappraisal (Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, 2014): Research proves that telling yourself "I am excited" leads to significantly better public speaking performance than trying to force calm.
How do you handle pre-stage jitters? Let me know below! 👇