There’s a particular area of focus that can very commonly cause significant stage fright. In this post, Pete identifies it and explores a way to shift that focus to something much more empowering.
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Here’s a tip for those of you who suffer from stage fright. I’m just like you — or at least I used to be. I had a ton of stage fright in my teens and twenties. I absolutely hated to be looked at, to be the center of attention. I hated the idea of standing in front of a room and being forced to speak while everyone watched and listened.
But on the other hand, I always wanted to make a difference. I wanted to provide value to people and contribute something meaningful. For the longest time, I thought the way to do that would be to create art — to make movies and share them with audiences, hoping that my work would make a difference. But what I eventually discovered is that there’s tremendous value in being the one who makes the difference directly — to actually see your words make an impact in the moment.
One of the biggest shifts that helped me overcome stage fright was changing how I thought about speaking. I used to think it was all about me — that I was the star of the show. And that mindset completely freaked me out. What I came to realize is that idea was totally in my way.
So I started to think of public speaking in a completely different way. I began to imagine that the event wasn’t about me at all — it was about my audience. I started creating a story in my head where the main character wasn’t me, but them. They were in a particular place that wasn’t ideal, and they wanted to be somewhere better. That shift in perspective changed everything.
Instead of seeing myself as the focus, I started seeing myself as someone who could help guide them toward that better place. I wasn’t the hero of the story — they were. My role was to be the guide, the one who helped them move from where they were to where they wanted to be. That change in mindset transformed my presence, reduced my fear, and gave me confidence in front of an audience.
When I started looking at speaking as a way to make a positive difference rather than as a performance to be judged, my fear disappeared. I no longer saw the audience as people who might criticize me — I saw them as people I could serve. That’s what confident communication and authentic leadership presence are all about. Focus less on yourself and more on the people you’re trying to help, and you’ll find your stage fright starts to fade away.
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