Fear gets a bad reputation, especially in the presentation space. Indeed, there are a great number of books, blogs and articles on how to overcome these fears. I’d like to make the argument that there is such a thing as a healthy dose of fear for presenters. In fact, I’d go as far as to say in select circumstances that fear is your friend. Fear has the ability to positively impact health, safety and change in your life.
Health
The effect that fear has on your nervous system is beneficial in a few key ways. There is no disputing that constant, chronic fear can wreak havoc on your immune system. However, those pre-presentation jitters you get just before a big pitch? Those could be beneficial. According to health+, When you are fearful, your body releases norepinephrine, which increases alertness and awareness. This makes you sharper during the period of stress, preparing your body to react. Your body also produces adrenaline. ‘That surge of adrenaline followed by relief actually tells the muscles in the body to relax. It sends a flood of oxygen-rich blood cells through your body and signals your brain to start releasing endorphins – a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good.” Once your brain knows fight-or-flight mode can be deactivated, you’ll be able to relax. Take some time to reflect if fear is your friend in these situations, and consider letting it in just a bit.
Safety
Fear is critical to our safety and survival. In fact, fearlessness in the face of actual danger could prove fatal. While it’s unlikely you’ll be putting yourself in any truly harmful situations while presenting, fear is your friend by keeping you safe from grave mistakes. Quite frankly, if we weren’t afraid of failure, we wouldn’t work as hard. Being afraid of letting your colleagues down can propel you to give your best to your work. Ultimately, knowing limitations and obstacles saves us from wasting time, money and energy. The true balancing act is allowing fear to keep you within the parameters of safety without inhibiting you from reaching your full potential.
Change
Experiencing fear is transformational. We are motivated by fear. Once we encounter something that scares us, we take action. We either put together a plan for how to get over the fear, or we decide to run the opposite direction. Both are powerful. Either way, fear changes us. By recognizing that fear is your friend, that change can be less scary. Let your journey to be shaped by these experiences–allowing them to creep into your story. Vulnerability enables fear to change your narrative and connect with your audience.
If you can learn to control your fear and let it work for you, fear is your friend for life. From small health benefits, to keeping you from making poor decisions, to paving the way for positive change–fear has its place. Think today about a big scary goal you have, and instead of running from it, see what it looks like to get closer.
Finding yourself in need of help after befriending fear? Let our presentation mentors help! Reach out for a free quote today.
