How to manage stage fright when making presentations at work

Oprah Nyanuga, a Broadcast Journalism student, has been struggling with stage fright.

Her course often requires her to present in front of the class or record a piece-to-camera (PTC) for assignments.

She admits that her anxiety sometimes overwhelms her, making her dread attending classes where she needs to present.

"The nerves make me terrified of standing in front of any audience because I'm afraid of making a mistake during the presentation," she explains.

But she is not alone.

In 2017, Caroline Olali, who works at a university in Nakuru, was asked to lead a prayer in front of the vice chancellor at one of the university's events.

This seemingly small request proved to be a daunting challenge. Overwhelmed by nerves, she realized afterward that she needed to build her confidence in public speaking.

“After the prayer, I spent the rest of the event fixating on my perceived failure and what I could have done better. I felt I missed an opportunity to showcase my skills in front of my seniors, which motivated me to tackle my public speaking fears,” she explains.

For two years, Caroline joined the Nakuru Toastmasters club and got to learn communication excellence. Here, she learned to express herself better, practice, and evaluate in a fun club environment.

She was able to express herself coherently which led to her being invited to train others on public speaking.

Since then, Caroline has been offering practical tips for those grappling with stage fright, emphasizing that overcoming this fear requires dedication and practice, noting that practice makes perfect.

She encourages engaging with the audience beforehand, which can make a significant difference, noting that one of the worst things an anxious speaker can do is isolate themselves before a presentation.

“It’s beneficial to warm up by chatting with people. If you’re speaking at an event, introduce yourself to other speakers, converse with the organizers, or mingle with the audience,” she advises.

Caroline also stresses the importance of memorizing your introduction, as the first minute of a presentation can be the most challenging.

“Getting your opening right helps you settle into your rhythm. If you stumble at the beginning, regaining your confidence can be tough. Once you can deliver your introduction from memory, you’re on the right track,” she notes.

Another key factor in public speaking anxiety, according to Caroline, is having the wrong mindset.

“Nervous speakers often focus on what they need from the audience—praise, approval, acceptance—which puts them in a disempowered position. When you view the speech as a way to seek validation, it leads to anxiety about not receiving it,” she says.

Interacting with the audience during a presentation can help ease this pressure.
Caroline warns that panic can build if speakers don’t engage, leading to freezing up or struggling to articulate their points.

She also encourages seeking feedback after presentations. “Public speakers should always be open to feedback to identify areas for improvement in future presentations,” she notes.