It’s the 21st century…why do we still get stage fright?

Technology is everywhere, with most of us staring at a screen for much of the day. So, maybe some of you are wondering…isn’t “stage fright” a little outdated? 

Sure, we’ve got an app for everything. In our futuristic world, we can fix our lives at the touch of a button, and every ailment and issue can be “solved” through an app or website. So…aren't old problems (like stage fright) just completely irrelevant now?

So, in this shiny new world...hasn't everything changed?

Turns out…it doesn’t quite work that way. 

Is stage fright "old news" in the digital age?

Stage fright? Sorry, still here. And kicking.  

Because..for all our wired and wild advances, we're still 100% human. 

Yup, we live, breathe, smile, fart (sorry) and laugh just like we've been doing for millennia. Eternities of evolutionary behavior, instinct, and culture still shape everything we do and say.

And maybe the jokes are different, but the ways we share and connect is the same. 

We tell stories. We swap jokes. We argue for our point of view.

And...we get stage fright.  

Whether we're debating around a bonfire or standing on TED stage, getting sweaty and nauseous is just freakin' normal. 

And the digital age doesn't change centuries of human biology, physiology and psychology.

So, to deal with stage fright, do we need to go backwards?

Do we have to go analog on our stage fright? 

Sure, there's a lot of smart “old school” knowledge in the past.

Need proof? Over a century ago, Mark Twain wrote about stage fright: “There are only two types of speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars.”

What's MOST important is understanding that stage fright is normal no matter what era we're living in. And understanding how stage fright works is even more relevant than ever.

We live in a world of constant sharing, where we are expected to deliver smart, succinct stories and messages, often on a daily basis. 

But many of us DON’T have the skills to share effectively. We’re still nervous, uncertain, and uncomfortable on stages or on camera. And the digital age doesn’t help us with this. It only increases the exposure. 

Remember, we’re just analog creatures trying to adjust to life in a digital world.

Mixing some old (and new) solutions

We’re wired to connect face to face with gesture and emotion and language. But we’re increasingly expected to share on stage, on screen, and online. 

And without a skill set to manage our stage fright, we just can’t deliver effectively to audiences. And if we’re already shy or introverted or uncomfortable in the spotlight, this is a real challenge.

So, turning back the clock isn't the answer. 

Our biggest challenge is to integrate the skills that work well to help us build better skills, and ADAPT them to current technologies and realities. 

Like…knowing how to manage our nerves.

Connect confidently with audiences.

Share strong messages. 

And that, my dears, is the kind of skillset that stands the test of time. (Feel free to tweet that.)