Stage Fright

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What is Stage Fright?

Stage fright is the fear or anxiety people feel before or during speaking, performing, or presenting in front of others. It affects professionals across many fields, including UX (user experience) designers, who often need to share their ideas with teams, stakeholders, and others. By learning how to manage it, you can turn stage fright into confidence and connection.

Discover how to feel more confidence and deliver better presentations when you speak in front of others, in this video with Morgane Peng, Managing Director, Global Head of Product Design and AI Transformation.

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All the World is a Stage (So Have No Fear)

William Shakespeare’s classic line “All the world’s a stage,” from his comedy As You Like It, echoes across time to provide some encouragement, at least in the sense that everyone has some role to play in life and so perhaps humans should get used to the idea. However, for the millions of people who experience stage fright, it’s no joke. Have you ever felt a pit in your stomach before going to speak in front of others? Perhaps a pang of dread before going onstage for a theatrical performance? If so, congratulations: you have a normal “condition” which countless other “co-sufferers” across the planet share.

Stage fright goes by other names, too, such as performance anxiety, and it’s closely related to the fear of public speaking, or glossophobia. The nervousness or fear that arises when someone is about to present or perform in front of others can strike at any time. It can happen before you step on stage or while you’re speaking in a meeting or giving an online presentation. Perhaps one of the nastiest tendencies of stage fright is that when someone knows they have to present in the future, it can color (though, hopefully, not ruin) the time between when they discover they must present and when they actually present.

Actors and musicians aren’t the only ones who get stage fright. People from all walks of life can experience stage-fright symptoms such as a faster heartbeat, sweating, and an unpleasant sense that everybody in the room is not just watching them but waiting for them to make a mistake and appear foolish, too. The key is to see through it as a “trick” of perception that your mind might automatically use in response to a potentially stressful situation; it may feel like an absolute reality, but it’s more like an illusion.

How Stage Fright Feels

Stage fright can show up in both physical and emotional ways, often interconnected in ways that you can’t easily analyze. Typical physical signs include rapid heartbeat, shaky voice or hands, dry mouth, and sweaty palms. Inside, you can experience racing thoughts and even end up forgetting lines or points you thought you had practiced to perfection.

Emotionally, you might feel dread, panic, or even a strong desire to avoid the situation altogether; like it would be so much safer not to put yourself through it. These reactions can feel overwhelming, but remember that millions of people share them. Even seasoned performers and leaders experience stage fright; it’s “part of the package” of performing. Famous speakers, actors, and musicians have all admitted to intense performance anxiety, even after decades of experience.

Why Does Stage Fright Happen? It’s Not You; It’s Biology

Stage fright occurs for a number of reasons, namely these

Evolutionary Wiring

“It goes back to the dawn of time” may sound like a cliché, but humans did evolve in groups, and, as social beings, acceptance meant survival. Standing apart, like getting up in front of others and speaking alone to them, can trigger a fear of rejection, a feeling your brain still treats as a real threat.

At its core, stage fright is your body’s natural fight-or-flight response kicking into gear. It’s a carryover from earlier times when humans had to worry about predators charging at them and savaging them to death, usually for food. The modern equivalent of such an ancient predicament may be a far safer scenario now, but the human nervous system doesn’t care; its “software” activates, anyway, and adrenaline floods the system, quickening heart rate and making you feel like bracing for an attack or running away.

Fear of Judgment

You worry about forgetting your words, making mistakes, or being misunderstood, but you know you’d be fine if you were presenting to an empty room. In that empty room, you can tell the walls every point in your speech with confidence and transition seamlessly from section to section. However, with so many sets of eyes on you, you pause and go, “Um.” What happened?

Again, it’s natural; this fear magnifies when others are watching. Whenever you, like most human beings, anticipate judgment, rejection, or failure, chances are your brain signals danger, even if no real threat exists. That adrenaline channels through your system, quickening your heartbeat, tightening your throat, and causing your palms to sweat. It might seem crazy to categorize these uncomfortable reactions as common, even normal, but they are.

Perfectionism and Self-Doubt

Perhaps most perversely of all, stage fright can get worse when you care. It’s not fair; surely it should happen to people who don’t try, the folks who can’t be bothered putting their all into something? Still, if you hold yourself to very high standards, stage fright may feel even worse. What should be a straightforward presentation about a topic you should know all about can turn into what might feel like an Olympic event, with that gnawing pressure to deliver flawlessly. Instead of focusing on sharing value, you can’t help but let the emotion take you. You, the competent professional who is cool, calm, and collected when you’re on your own, might now become a tangle of jangled nerves. Surely, it’s a sign of lack of emotional maturity, the sort of thing that only children get? No; it’s natural, at any age.

Previous Experiences

Speaking of “children,” think about your past for a moment: an early school play, your turn to speak in debating class, or presenting a project in school, for example. How did it go? Maybe you tripped and fell on the stage? Did other students laugh at a point you made in the debate? Perhaps the student who presented their science project just before you did it so well and had the most impressive project of all, and you felt yours paled by comparison?

In the moment, maybe you felt your legs turn to jelly, your voice wavered, and you just wanted to be out of there. Any frustration or anger would come later; maybe you’d seethed at how the other student’s parent must have created their project that made yours look bad by comparison, for instance? The memory of a negative presentation, even years ago, can intensify anxiety in the present. If you experienced any of those symptoms earlier in your life, the scenario of presenting or public speaking now can trigger those awful feelings.

Fortunately, recognizing these roots helps you see stage fright for what it is: it’s a natural response, not a personal failing or a sign that you’re a “bad presenter.”

An image showing two people portraying characters, one who stayed professional and did not let emotions take over, and the other not trained to give effective feedback and had a bad day.

How an objective eye might see a situation featuring these two people, who in this picture represent participants in a potential presentation. The cool presenter “wins.”

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

Myths About Stage Fright

Now the science behind stage fright is out of the way, one aspect that can make stage fright feel worse is myths about it, and here are some main ones:

Myth 1: Only Shy People Get Stage Fright

Totally untrue: extroverts and experienced professionals often feel it, too.

Myth 2: If You Have Stage Fright, You’ll Never Be Good at Public Speaking

This one is rather like the flip side of “success breeds success,” but it’s false, so don’t believe it. The truth is, with practice, anyone can become skilled at presenting and even enjoy it.

Myth 3: Confidence Means Zero Nerves

People may like to show that they’re not “sweating it,” but, in truth, confidence means managing nerves, not eliminating them. “Managing nerves” isn’t a superhuman feat, by the way; anyone can do it with practice and insight.

Why Stage Fright Matters in UX Design

Public speaking and presentations aren’t “extra” skills in UX design; they are part of your everyday professional life. You may have genius ideas and design screens, flows, or research studies, but your ideas only create impact when others understand and support them. That means it’s just as important to share your designs and findings clearly and persuasively as it is to create them.

Explore how speaking up can empower you as a designer to do more with your craft and with your team members, in this video with Morgane Peng.

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As a UX designer, you’ll often find yourself:

  • Presenting research findings to stakeholders so they see what users really need.

  • Explaining design choices to product managers, developers, clients, and executives.

  • Speaking at conferences or meetups to build authority and contribute to the design community.

Every one of these moments is a chance to grow, not just your design influence, but your career. When you speak confidently, people remember you, trust your expertise, and see you as a leader who’s sure about the subject and about yourself.

The Benefits of Strong Communication Skills

For you as a UX designer, or in any role where communication matters, understanding stage fright helps you manage it. Instead of seeing it as a weakness, you can use it as a signal: your mind and body care deeply about the outcome, and you can redirect that energy into focus and impact.

Often, strong presentation skills are what separate good designers from great ones. Many career breakthroughs, such as promotions, leadership opportunities, conference invitations, come to those who can share ideas with clarity and impact. So, when you triumph over any fear of presentations, you can flip the perspective to enjoy the benefits and:

  • Show your expertise. You’ve put in the hard work; now you get to share it, so relish each moment you’re up there.

  • Build influence. When you speak persuasively, stakeholders trust your judgment and can give your designs the support they need to move forward.

  • Expand your network. Each presentation introduces you to people who value your perspective and can associate with you.

  • Advocate for users and ensure the best solutions reach the market.

  • Shape your career path. Confident communication opens doors to leadership, teaching, or speaking roles.

Note: public speaking isn’t about being the loudest person in the room; it’s about communicating ideas in a way that inspires action. When you embrace it, you don’t just overcome stage fright; you set yourself up to thrive in UX design and beyond.

An image of the instructor with the caption Have strong opinions, weakly held.

When you’re up and speaking, it’s advisable to have some weakness, but don’t worry; it’s nothing to do with your nerves.

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

How to Overcome Stage Fright: Practical Tips

Stage fright is something you can manage well, and, with the right strategies, you can transform anxiety into energy that others may find contagious. Consider these proven approaches:

1. Reframe Nervousness as Excitement

Your body’s signals, like a racing heart, are almost identical whether you feel anxious or excited; fear and arousal live on the same “street” in the human nervous system. It’s the perfect opportunity to harness that power and tell yourself: “I’m excited to share this!” and you’ll redirect the energy into enthusiasm instead of fear.

2. Prepare Thoroughly

Preparation builds confidence; even so-called “natural speakers” need to practice and rehearse, too, or their audiences will quickly notice a lack of substance and coherence in what they hear. Outline your key points, practice aloud, and test your setup if you’re presenting online. In a sense, it’s like muscle memory. The more familiar you are with your material, the less mental space anxiety will occupy.

Practice can make perfect, so check out these tips on how to steer your presentation skills towards better outcomes and avoid pitfalls, in this video with Morgane Peng.

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3. Focus on the Audience, Not Yourself

Stage fright often comes from self-focus and losing sight of what’s really important. Don’t worry; it’s certainly not that you’re selfish or unimportant; it’s just that the “What if I mess up?” focus can derail proceedings. So, instead, shift attention outward. Ask: “How can I help my audience understand and benefit from this?” Take this mindset and you’ll find it can reduce pressure and build connection as you feel good as a giver. From that, when you’re building up audience awareness and sustain it, you can engage everyone in the room without sacrificing anything from your own performance. If anything, you’ll improve how you appear to them as an interested, competent, and caring professional who values their contributions.

Find out how to give even better presentations through audience awareness, in this video with Morgane Peng.

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4. Breathe and Ground Yourself

Listen to your lungs and notice a powerful anti-stress aid you can indulge in with the first activity humans do when they’re born. Deep, slow breathing calms your nervous system. Before your presentation, take a minute’s practice to inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, and exhale for eight, safely. If you can enjoy some grounding before the event by contacting with the earth outside, you can enjoy some benefit from that, also. Other techniques, like pressing your feet into the floor, help anchor you, too, and striking a power pose can help how you feel and how you look.

An image of the intructor with the caption Strike a power pose and Don't slouch, Open your posture, and Ground your posture.

Try this posture to improve your UX design speech delivery and how you feel in a presentation setting.

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

5. Start Small

If big presentations feel daunting, why not start with smaller steps. Speak up in meetings, lead a short workshop, or present to a supportive friend, and gradually, your confidence will grow to the point that when you’re up in front of a larger group, you may not even notice the “crowd.”

6. Practice Visualization

When you see an effect happen before the fact, you can seize and “own” it, so picture yourself succeeding. Imagine the audience nodding, smiling, and applauding. Visualization primes your brain for positive outcomes and reduces fear. If you’ve presented or performed in the past and it went well, remember that good feeling you had afterwards and tap that, too: imagine the dopamine rush you’ll get from this next superb performance.

7. Accept Imperfection

Nobody expects flawless delivery, not in the real world, anyway. Mistakes happen, and audiences are more forgiving than you may think. Aside from the point that the people watching you can feel better about their own performance anxiety as well, the important thing is that they remember your message and sincerity, not every word.

8. Use Your Body

Stand tall, make eye contact, and gesture naturally; you’re only up there for a limited time, not an eternity. Your body language communicates confidence to others; it also feeds confidence back into you. Your body is a great vehicle to take your points home to everyone in the room, so enjoy the “drive.”

9. Remember Why Everyone is There

You’re there to present, and they’re there to learn and contribute to the great fund of knowledge you will provide. So, remember these are people, who have taken time to see you as what you have to say is so important, and so respect your time and theirs. They’re human beings, not gods poised to judge you in a life-or-death situation. Enjoy the experience and you’ll likely help them enjoy it, too.

10. Cast a Presence of Trust

What’s the one ingredient that will help you succeed more than any? Trust. You can come across as calm, cool, and collected, and you can convey all the competency a highly skilled professional who’s presenting could want. However, unless you’re likeable as well as competent, you’ll find it hard to win the audience’s trust, especially important when you’re trying to secure buy-in from business stakeholders. And when people recognize you as a giver, not a taker, they’ll listen more to you as someone to trust. Fortunately, you’ve got two solid trust frameworks to apply to help your message not just land with the audience members but resonate also: the competency and warmth model, and the giver-taker model.

Find out how to leverage trust models to fine-tune your speech and presentation delivery and get better results, in this video with Morgane Peng:

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Stage Fright Is Not a Weakness: It’s a Signal You Care

For all its uncomfortable “symptoms” to manage, remember that stage fright has a surprising upside: it shows you care. So, acknowledge how that adrenaline rush fuels your energy, sharpens your focus, and keeps you fully present. Many performers admit their best shows come with a dose of nerves. Imagine how dreary and lackluster they might seem if it weren’t for that spark to help them deliver the goods.

By reframing stage fright as a partner rather than an enemy, you can unlock its empowering side and climb aboard a thrilling ride to deliver the goods to your target audience, impressively. Instead of trying to “erase” nervousness and potentially dilute your message into a half-hearted explanation, treat it as an ally and use it to bring authenticity, energy, and passion to your communication.

Overall, stage fright does not limit your potential; you are not “bad at presenting” because you feel nervous. You are human, and with each experience, you can build resilience and skill. You can learn to channel the energy of stage fright and turn it from a force that feels like it might scorch your spirit into one that helps you shine. Many of the world’s most admired communicators started out with shaky hands and trembling voices. They grew by facing their fear, not by avoiding it; and underneath it all, many of them still feel the “fear” decades into their careers.

When you do the same, you’ll not only overcome stage fright; you’ll discover a more confident, authentic version of yourself, too. However “shy” or introverted you might believe yourself to be, you’re not barred from thriving in front of others. Many introverts become powerful communicators because they prepare deeply and speak with authenticity, improving all the time. People respect that authenticity; it’s earnest. With practice and patience and self-love, stage fright becomes far less of a barrier and more of a stepping stone to growth, empowerment, and connection: a buzz that can flow into a lively, memorable presentation that can transform into a rush when you look back at a talk delivered well.

Learn More about Stage Fright

Discover how to unleash your presentation skills potential and much more in our course Present Like a Pro: Communication Skills to Fast-track Your Career with Morgane Peng, Managing Director, Global Head of Product Design and AI Transformation.

Reach into the past for some powerful points about how to manage present presentations and future instances when you stand in front of others speaking, in our article The Persuasion Triad — Aristotle Still Teaches.

Explore helpful insights in this article published in Bootcamp, 10 things I learned when I started public speaking as a Design Researcher.

Get more out of your public speaking information with additional tips in the Justinmind article 6 tips to ace your next UX design presentation.

Questions about Stage Fright

Why do many UX designers experience anxiety when presenting their work?

UX (user experience) designers often feel anxious when presenting because they tie their identity to their work. Since UX calls for solving complex, user-centered problems which take so much care and thought, critiques can feel like personal attacks.

Many designers face uncertainty about how stakeholders will respond, too, especially if those stakeholders do not understand UX deeply. Fear of judgment, imposter syndrome, and the challenge of translating abstract decisions into clear business value all contribute to performance anxiety.

Designers thrive, and enjoy it, when feedback is collaborative, not combative. It demands separating personal worth from project outcomes and viewing presentations as opportunities to learn from colleagues, not defend from foes.

Find a wealth of helpful points about handling feedback in How to Get Meaningful Design Feedback from Your Clients.

How can I overcome the fear of presenting my UX designs to stakeholders or clients?

To reduce fear, focus on preparation and storytelling and build a narrative around your design decisions: what problems you solved, how user research guided your choices, and why your solution benefits the business. Practice your pitch with a colleague or record yourself to refine your message.

Most importantly, shift your mindset and treat presentations as conversations, not tests. Stakeholders are not judging your worth or trying to catch you out; they are exploring how your ideas align with business goals. Another tip: anticipate tough questions and prepare answers so you can enter discussions calmly. When you expect dialogue, not defense, fear levels go down. Remember, you will feel confident from knowing your process, not from having a “perfect” design (if there even is any such thing).

Enjoy a wealth of prime presentation-related points to help boost your confidence, in our Master Class Win Clients, Pitches and Approval: Present Your Designs Effectively with Todd Zaki Warfel, Author, Speaker and Leadership Coach.

What are some techniques to reduce anxiety before a UX design presentation?

To begin, rehearse out loud and do it several times. It will build your fluency in the subject and reduce mental clutter. Next, visualize success: picture stakeholders nodding, asking curious questions, and supporting your ideas. Flip things around to see what value they can get from your presentation and focus on that.

Practice power poses for two minutes to boost confidence. On the day of the presentation, arrive early, set up your environment, and breathe deeply and safely (4 seconds in, 7 hold, 8 out) for a minute. Limit caffeine, avoid alcohol, and drink water. Most importantly, reframe nerves as excitement. Both involve the same physical signals. By naming the feeling “excitement,” you train your brain to lean in rather than panic. Finally, prepare an outline of key points so you stay grounded even if surprises arise.

Discover more about what matters for UX designers to cast better impressions, in our article Key Soft Skills to Succeed as a UX Designer.

How can introverted designers navigate presentations and team discussions effectively?

Contrary to what some people might believe, introverts can thrive in presentations by playing to their strengths in preparation, deep thinking, and active listening. Practice your main points ahead of time, rehearse them well, and bring notes if you need to. Structure your thoughts with a clear beginning, middle, and end that you can follow and adapt per the audience and feedback or discussion.

In team discussions, listen actively and then contribute with concise, thoughtful input. You do not need to speak first to make an impact. Another tip is to suggest asynchronous discussions, such as through a communication platform or email, whenever possible, as it can give you time to reflect and respond thoughtfully. To add more of a human element, consider adding a storytelling element to lift facts and figures into a more relatable dimension, such as: “This is Anna; she enjoyed using the app until she tried it in a loud environment.”

Overall, presence matters more than volume. Stakeholders often appreciate calm, grounded presenters who bring clarity and prefer them over bluster and “showmanship.” When you prepare well, introversion becomes a superpower, not a limitation.

Find out more about what matters for UX designers to cast better impressions, in our article What Soft Skills Does a UX Designer Need?.

Are there specific breathing or relaxation exercises for designers facing stage fright?

Yes, deep breathing works wonders, and you have several methods to research and try safely. Try 4-7-8 breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8 seconds, for a minute.

Another technique is “physiological sighs”: take a short inhale, then a second one, followed by a long, slow exhale. Progressive muscle relaxation, where you tense and relax muscle groups, also releases stored tension and can make you feel far better. Practice these before meetings or even during a presentation if nerves spike. These tools ground you in the moment and help redirect your focus from anxiety to engagement and success.

Discover a treasure trove of helpful points in our article How to Communicate Clearly and Gain People’s Interest.

How do I handle tough feedback without losing confidence in my design skills?

Look on tough feedback as a reflection of the work, not your talent, even if what’s being critiqued came from you as heartfelt output or an “extension” of you. When someone critiques your design, they’re usually reacting to how well it meets user needs or business goals. If they’re not (as in, aiming at you instead), that’s bad on them for bringing personal or office politics into the room and fouling it.

Ask clarifying questions such as, “Can you tell me more about what you expected to see?” This shifts the conversation skillfully from criticism to collaboration.

However, remember that it’s not about enmity and opponents. To help keep things from becoming adversarial, separate your ego from the outcome: great designers grow through iteration. You’ll feel your confidence rise, not your temper, when you treat feedback as data, not a verdict. And remember: even the best UX teams go through many rounds before reaching a final product. Mastery lies not in avoiding feedback, but in learning how to use it constructively to see things through to a win-win for everyone in the room, and the product’s users.

Explore design critiques to prepare better for constructive criticism and know how to turn it around into something even more positive.

How can I confidently present my design ideas to senior designers or leadership?

Frame your ideas in terms of business value, user needs, and evidence. Begin with a brief problem statement, outline your research insights, and walk through your rationale. Use language that links design choices to measurable outcomes, such as increased conversions, reduced errors, or improved satisfaction, and remember they are business “bottom line” people. So, avoid jargon and keep visuals clear.

Practice beforehand with peers to find weak spots and work on them. Senior leaders care about results, not just aesthetics, so tie every design element to a goal. Confidence comes from clarity, and remember they are not out to get you as a “non-business person”; they just tend to see things from a heightened perspective (often). When you can explain the “why” behind your design and show how it supports strategy, leaders see you as a problem-solver who speaks their language, not just a creative, and they will trust your judgment that much more.

Come across better as a more trustable presenter by picking up valuable tips from this video with Morgane Peng, Managing Director, Global Head of Product Design and AI Transformation.

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How do I build confidence in explaining my design rationale during a critique?

You will find your confidence growing when you ground your rationale in research and design principles. Begin with the problem you aimed to address and solve. Share what users needed, what pain points you exposed, and how your solution addresses them. Reference best practices, heuristics, or data to back up your decisions in concrete.

Another tip: forewarned is forearmed, so anticipate questions and prepare thoughtful responses. It helps to practice in mock critiques, too, so find things, or ask a colleague, to “devil's advocate” for. When you walk in knowing you followed a solid process and you can communicate it clearly, you will speak with conviction. Remember, though, that it is not about defending your design or preparing to lock horns with others. It has got to be about showing how you arrived at the best solution for the users: the people who are the reason the brand even exists.

Prepare for how some people in the audience might think about design, as Morgane Peng explains in this video.

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Are there UX-specific communication frameworks to reduce anxiety during design critiques?

Yes, the “Explain, Ask, Reflect” model can help you structure critiques. First, explain your goals, constraints, and key decisions. Then, ask for targeted feedback (e.g., “How does this flow align with our user's goals?”). Lastly, reflect on the responses and invite discussion. This method is good for shifting critiques from vague judgments to structured dialogues.

Another option is the “What, Why, How” framework. Describe what you designed, why you made those choices, and how they meet user or business goals. Perceived “pushback” often comes out of uncertainty or because the audience has not grasped a point properly. Clear frameworks reduce ambiguity and help others evaluate ideas constructively. Plus (or better still), they reduce anxiety by giving you a reliable format to lean on, even under pressure or if the whole room seems to be dissenting with you. Best of all, the more level-headed and rational you are under pressure, the more relatable and trustable you will come across to the audience.

Discover how to tap trust, one of the most powerful forces in design, in our article Trust: Building the Bridge to Our Users.

How do experienced UX designers deal with nerves before stakeholder reviews?

Experienced designers do not eliminate nerves; they manage them. Nobody, or very few, will have an “easy ride” with these kinds of talks or just “sail through.” They prepare talking points, rehearse key sections, and visualize success. They often have backup slides or mockups ready for alternative suggestions. More importantly, though, they reframe nerves as energy that fuels focus on, rather than assaults, their peace.

Many experienced designers use feedback from past sessions to strengthen their approach. They tend to know how to maintain perspective, too: that one presentation does not define a career. By treating each review as a learning opportunity and not a test or a trial, they stay calm and curious. With experience, you learn that stakeholder reviews are rarely about “right or wrong” and should never be about picking you apart; they are about alignment, iteration, and shared outcomes: you are all in this together, after all.

Pick up helpful points about handling feedback in How to Get Meaningful Design Feedback from Your Clients.

What are some helpful resources for UX designers wanting to handle stage fright?

Cuddy, A. (2015). Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges. Little, Brown and Company.

Amy Cuddy’s Presence explores how people can achieve a state of confident authenticity (what she calls “presence”) through small shifts in posture, mindset, and behavior. Based on psychological research and her own TED Talk, the book provides practical tools to reduce anxiety and increase self-belief in high-pressure moments. It was published by Little, Brown and Company in 2015.

The Speaker Lab. (2024, September). How to overcome stage fright as a public speaker. The Speaker Lab. https://thespeakerlab.com/blog/stage-fright/

This blog post from The Speaker Lab provides a clear and strategic breakdown of what stage fright is, its causes, and how to gradually build resilience against it. It recommends exposure-based techniques, detailed preparation, and guided support, especially for speakers at the start of their journey. Endorsed by experts in public speaking education, this guide has been praised for balancing psychological insight with practical application. Its integration of advice from the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) also adds a layer of credibility and psychological grounding for those struggling with performance anxiety.

Calm. (2024, September 26). 8 mindful tips to help you cope with stage fright. Calm Blog. https://blog.calm.com/blog/stage-fright

This Calm blog entry takes a mindfulness-centered approach to managing stage fright, emphasizing breath awareness, grounding exercises, and emotional regulation. Reviewed by mental health professionals, the post outlines how practices rooted in presence and compassion can ease the physiological symptoms of anxiety. By providing readers with calm-inducing habits and techniques, this resource serves as a useful complement to cognitive and performance-based strategies. It stands out due to its clinical tone and user-centered framing, making it ideal for readers interested in blending mental wellness with personal development.

Brunner, M. (n.d.). 7 proven ways to overcome public speaking anxiety. Public Speaking with Maria. https://publicspeakingwithmaria.com/7-proven-ways-to-overcome-public-speaking-anxiety/

In this post, Maria Brunner, a communication coach, shares seven tactical strategies to reduce public speaking anxiety, including grounding techniques, visualization, and environmental familiarity. Unlike broader self-help blogs, this article hones in on the practical side of preparation and recovery, supported by clear examples and storytelling. The strategies are grounded in behavioral psychology, offering readers a hands-on framework to practice and refine over time. This blog is especially helpful for individuals who want easy-to-apply tools without needing a background in psychology or mindfulness.

Asia Pacific Academy of Performing Arts (APAC). (2024, September). 7 tips and techniques for overcoming stage fright. APAC Blog. https://apac.edu.au/blog/tips-and-techniques-for-overcoming-stage-fright/

Tailored for performers, this APAC blog provides a comprehensive overview of how to manage stage fright before auditions, concerts, or theatrical performances. It covers both mental and physical triggers and emphasizes techniques like controlled breathing, rehearsal, and performance visualization. As a professional performing arts school, APAC brings pedagogical authority to the subject, making this resource valuable for both students and professionals. Its emphasis on skill-building and rehearsal-based resilience makes it especially relevant to those in music, theater, and dance.

Zimmer, J. (2025). Manner of Speaking [Blog]. IamDanRam. https://www.iamdanram.com/blog/top-10-public-speaking-blogs-2025/

John Zimmer’s Manner of Speaking blog is recognized in this curated list of the top 10 public speaking blogs for 2025, hosted on the DanRam platform. Zimmer’s writing is known for its clarity, research grounding, and frequent focus on stage fright, storytelling, and audience connection. The blog offers valuable reflections on speech preparation, delivery, and emotional management, supported by psychological research and public speaking theory. Its inclusion in this reputable roundup reflects Zimmer’s consistent quality and influence in the public speaking domain.

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Literature on Stage Fright

Here's the entire UX literature on Stage Fright by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:

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All open-source articles on Stage Fright

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Cite according to academic standards

Simply copy and paste the text below into your bibliographic reference list, onto your blog, or anywhere else. You can also just hyperlink to this page.

Interaction Design Foundation - IxDF. (2025, October 3). What is Stage Fright?. Interaction Design Foundation - IxDF.