Armin van Buuren Teaches Dance Music

Become a Streamer

Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Critical Leadership Training with Navy SEAL Officer Jocko Willink

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

David Carson Teaches Graphic Design

deadmau5 Teaches Electronic Music Production

Elaine Welteroth Teaches Designing Your Career

Elevate Your Singing and Stage Presence

Es Devlin Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

George Stephanopoulos Teaches Purposeful Communication

Helen Mirren Teaches Acting

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Hillary Rodham Clinton Teaches The Power of Resilience

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

LeVar Burton Teaches the Power of Storytelling

Malala Teaches Creating Change

Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Misty Copeland Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Naomi Campbell Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

Navigating Change

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic

Prepare to Be Unprepared

Questlove Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Reba McEntire Teaches Country Music

Ringo Starr Teaches Drumming & Creative Collaboration

Robin Arzón Teaches Mental Strength

RuPaul Teaches Self-Expression and Authenticity

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

Stephen Curry Teaches Shooting, Ball-Handling, and Scoring

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Using Humor to Make Your Mark

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Yo-Yo Ma Teaches Music and Connection

Delivering Your Final Performance

Finding Your Streaming Style and Routine

Boost Your Stage Confidence

Build Confidence in Yourself

Making a Song Your Own

Convey Emotion in Your Performance

Elevate Your Stage Presence as a DJ

Prepare for a Stage Performance

Acting & Performing Arts

Teaches Storytelling and Humor

David Sedaris

David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Teaches Acting

Helen Mirren

Teaches Comedy

Steve Martin

Teach the Art of Magic

Penn & Teller

Samuel L. Jackson

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Teaches the Power of Storytelling

LeVar Burton

Teaches the Power of Storytelling 

Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Teaches The Art of Performance

Usher

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Misty Copeland

Natalie Portman

Teaches Voice Acting

Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting

Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Simone Biles

Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Naomi Campbell

Teaches Filmmaking

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

Judd Apatow

Kevin Hart

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Es Devlin

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Amy Poehler

Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

You begin to develop speaking skills in the earliest phases of language development and acquisition. As you get older and refine your speaking skills, you can amass a wider [vocabulary](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-vocabulary) to improve your [diction](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-diction-learn-8-different-types-of-diction-in-writing-with-examples), gain a sense of what makes a story or speech engaging, and attain a better understanding of how to hold an audience’s attention. 

[Public speaking](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-public-speaking) skills can prove useful in terms of normal conversation as well. The more eloquent, clear, and confident you are, the more adept at both oration and conversation you’ll be.
To speak well, you need to cultivate a certain set of traits and talents. Here are just a few of the key <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a> skills you should work on to become a better speaker:

1. __Clarity__: For someone to appreciate what you have to say, they have to comprehend what you mean in the first place. Speech clarity is what allows people to understand precisely what you mean. This involves choosing the right words to convey your intended meaning with simplicity but also thoroughness. You can improve your own sense of clarity by studying other speakers with clear and concise oratory abilities. 
2. __Confidence__: One of the most common phobias, the fear of public speaking takes a lot of practice and confidence to overcome. Start by practicing in front of a mirror or with friends and family before stepping out in front of a crowd. Still, the only way to gain this sort of faith in yourself is to step outside of your comfort zone. You’ll become a more [confident public speaker](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-confidently-speak-in-public) by speaking in public often. As you gain greater self-assurance, you’ll have a much easier time keeping audiences captivated.
3. __Eloquence__: You’ll need to know your way around the finer points of your language to become the best speaker possible. Clever turns of phrase, a robust vocabulary, and [persuasive](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-persuasive-rhetoric) argumentation are just a few pillars of eloquence and rhetoric.
Improving your ability to speak requires refinement on a host of different metrics. These public speaking tips will help you engage your listeners as much as possible:

1. __Maintain a sense of calm__. To speak well, you need to feel stable and in control of yourself. If you let your nerves get the best of you, they can throw off your ability to speak with the cogency you could otherwise muster. Take deep breaths before beginning a speech to calm yourself or consider doing a brief [mindfulness](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mindfulness-exercises) meditation. Performing [breathing exercises](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/breathing-exercise) will help expand your lung capacity and allow you to speak for longer stretches of time.
2. __Practice ahead of time__. Rehearse the specific speech you plan to give a multitude of times before giving it. You can also practice saying tongue twisters to refine your [articulation](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/11-articulation-exercises-for-actors) and ability to say many complex words and sounds in a row. Read books aloud to yourself or to family members is another way to improve your speaking skills.
3. __Prepare what you plan to say__. Even the greatest orators in history have relied on notes or full transcripts of what they plan to say while speaking. Write out your speech in full and <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide","linkCopy":"read through","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>read through</a> it over and over. See if you can break it down into an outline and still capture all your main points and turns of phrase. If possible, use a visual aid, such as a teleprompter or cue cards, as you address the crowd.
4. __Reduce filler words__. It’s common to use filler words like “um,” “uh,” and “like” during everyday [conversation](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-conversations-going), but you should strive to avoid using these in more official settings. Record yourself speaking to learn which filler words you might use often so you can begin weeding them out of your speech. In more serious cases, a course of language therapy can help you reduce your reliance on these placeholders.
5. __Talk with a speech therapist__. If you struggle with a speech difference or impediment, consider meeting with a speech-language pathologist. Speech therapy can help you overcome a stutter, overreliance on filler words, or other issues. They can also help you with more basic rhetorical skills like varying your intonation and projecting your voice so everyone can hear you.
6. __Utilize body language__. Engage your audience’s attention through both verbal language and [body language](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-body-language). Make eye contact with people in the crowd. Use appropriate facial expressions to anchor emotional points. Gesture with your hands. Pace around the stage.
Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) for exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including LeVar Burton, Samuel L. Jackson, Nancy Cartwright, Issa Rae, Steve Martin, and more.
It can be difficult to speak in front of a crowd, no matter how large or small. Great public speakers learn how to overcome their insecurities, improve their vocabularies, and entrance their audiences with their verbal and nonverbal communication. Learn more about how to improve your speech skills, so you can enunciate and orate with pride and confidence.

It can be difficult to speak in front of a crowd, no matter how large or small. Great public speakers learn how to overcome their insecurities, improve their vocabularies, and entrance their audiences with their verbal and nonverbal communication. Learn more about how to improve your speech skills, so you can enunciate and orate with pride and confidence.

How to Improve Speech Skills: 3 Key Speaking Skills

You begin to develop speaking skills in the earliest phases of language development and acquisition. As you get older and refine your speaking skills, you can amass a wider <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-vocabulary' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-improve-your-vocabulary","linkCopy":"vocabulary","category":null}'>vocabulary</a> to improve your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-diction-learn-8-different-types-of-diction-in-writing-with-examples' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-diction-learn-8-different-types-of-diction-in-writing-with-examples","linkCopy":"diction","category":null}'>diction</a>, gain a sense of what makes a story or speech engaging, and attain a better understanding of how to hold an audience’s attention. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-public-speaking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-public-speaking","linkCopy":"Public speaking","category":null}'>Public speaking</a> skills can prove useful in terms of normal conversation as well. The more eloquent, clear, and confident you are, the more adept at both oration and conversation you’ll be.

A Brief Overview of Speaking Skills

To speak well, you need to cultivate a certain set of traits and talents. Here are just a few of the key <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a> skills you should work on to become a better speaker:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Clarity: For someone to appreciate what you have to say, they have to comprehend what you mean in the first place. Speech clarity is what allows people to understand precisely what you mean. This involves choosing the right words to convey your intended meaning with simplicity but also thoroughness. You can improve your own sense of clarity by studying other speakers with clear and concise oratory abilities. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Confidence: One of the most common phobias, the fear of public speaking takes a lot of practice and confidence to overcome. Start by practicing in front of a mirror or with friends and family before stepping out in front of a crowd. Still, the only way to gain this sort of faith in yourself is to step outside of your comfort zone. You’ll become a more <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-confidently-speak-in-public' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-confidently-speak-in-public","linkCopy":"confident public speaker","category":null}'>confident public speaker</a> by speaking in public often. As you gain greater self-assurance, you’ll have a much easier time keeping audiences captivated. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Eloquence: You’ll need to know your way around the finer points of your language to become the best speaker possible. Clever turns of phrase, a robust vocabulary, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-persuasive-rhetoric' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-persuasive-rhetoric","linkCopy":"persuasive","category":null}'>persuasive</a> argumentation are just a few pillars of eloquence and rhetoric. </li></ol>

3 Key Speaking Skills

Improving your ability to speak requires refinement on a host of different metrics. These public speaking tips will help you engage your listeners as much as possible:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Maintain a sense of calm. To speak well, you need to feel stable and in control of yourself. If you let your nerves get the best of you, they can throw off your ability to speak with the cogency you could otherwise muster. Take deep breaths before beginning a speech to calm yourself or consider doing a brief <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mindfulness-exercises' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/mindfulness-exercises","linkCopy":"mindfulness","category":null}'>mindfulness</a> meditation. Performing <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/breathing-exercise' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/breathing-exercise","linkCopy":"breathing exercises","category":null}'>breathing exercises</a> will help expand your lung capacity and allow you to speak for longer stretches of time. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Practice ahead of time. Rehearse the specific speech you plan to give a multitude of times before giving it. You can also practice saying tongue twisters to refine your <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/11-articulation-exercises-for-actors' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/11-articulation-exercises-for-actors","linkCopy":"articulation","category":null}'>articulation</a> and ability to say many complex words and sounds in a row. Read books aloud to yourself or to family members is another way to improve your speaking skills. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Prepare what you plan to say. Even the greatest orators in history have relied on notes or full transcripts of what they plan to say while speaking. Write out your speech in full and <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-table-read-how-to-set-up-a-table-read-including-who-to-invite-and-what-to-provide","linkCopy":"read through","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>read through</a> it over and over. See if you can break it down into an outline and still capture all your main points and turns of phrase. If possible, use a visual aid, such as a teleprompter or cue cards, as you address the crowd. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Reduce filler words. It’s common to use filler words like “um,” “uh,” and “like” during everyday <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-conversations-going' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-conversations-going","linkCopy":"conversation","category":null}'>conversation</a>, but you should strive to avoid using these in more official settings. Record yourself speaking to learn which filler words you might use often so you can begin weeding them out of your speech. In more serious cases, a course of language therapy can help you reduce your reliance on these placeholders. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Talk with a speech therapist. If you struggle with a speech difference or impediment, consider meeting with a speech-language pathologist. Speech therapy can help you overcome a stutter, overreliance on filler words, or other issues. They can also help you with more basic rhetorical skills like varying your intonation and projecting your voice so everyone can hear you. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Utilize body language. Engage your audience’s attention through both verbal language and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-body-language' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-body-language","linkCopy":"body language","category":null}'>body language</a>. Make eye contact with people in the crowd. Use appropriate facial expressions to anchor emotional points. Gesture with your hands. Pace around the stage. </li></ol>

How to Improve Speech Skills: 6 Tips

Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> for exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including LeVar Burton, Samuel L. Jackson, Nancy Cartwright, Issa Rae, Steve Martin, and more.

Learn More

It can be difficult to speak in front of a crowd, no matter how large or small. Great public speakers learn how to overcome their insecurities, improve their vocabularies, and entrance their audiences with their verbal and nonverbal communication. Learn more about how to improve your speech skills, so you can enunciate and orate with pride and confidence.

It can be difficult to speak in front of a crowd, no matter how large or small. Great public speakers learn how to overcome their insecurities, improve their vocabularies, and entrance their audiences with their verbal and nonverbal communication. Learn more about how to improve your speech skills, so you can enunciate and orate with pride and confidence.


Woman practicing a speech in an empty auditorium.

how-to-improve-speech

[Reba McEntire](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/reba-mcentire-teaches-country-music) is a world-class country music singer and songwriter. Reba topped the Billboard charts with her “Can’t Even Get the Blues” in 1983 and became one of the most popular country musicians in the late twentieth century. Throughout her decades-long career, the singer has accumulated twenty-four hit singles, three Grammy wins, and 28 albums certified platinum, gold, or silver. She currently holds the record for the female artist with the most CMA Award nods, with a whopping 50 nominations. Reba has also found success as an actor and TV star in the early 2000s, best known for “Buffalo Girls,” “Is There Life Out There?” and her starring role in the sitcom “Reba.” To date, Reba has released more than 30 albums and singles.
Live performance has existed as part of human culture for thousands of years. It includes live music performances, theater performances, and dance performances. Artists can capture performances on video or on audio, but performing live in front of audiences is an opportunity to showcase their artistry and connect with audiences.

For singers like Reba McEntire, live performance requires physical stamina, vocal prowess, memorization skills, and stage presence. Artists must have the ability to command an audience, physically perform up to an hour’s worth of music, remember an entire set list and accompanying choreography and movement, and fill an auditorium with their voice. “Performing is really important to an artist because it gives them an outlet of all their energy and their creativity and their need to be on stage,” Reba says.
Reba McEntire has performed live for more than forty years, in venues big and small. Follow her tips to put on a show for a live audience: 

1. __Create a captivating setlist__. Reba builds her setlist with her band members. The setlist should have a beginning, middle, and end, and feature a mix of songs that audiences know and love and songs with special significance. “Your first song has to be something that gets everybody excited [that] you're there,” Reba says.
2. __Find inspiration__. Reba watches other performers to see how they grab the audience’s attention and command the stage. Among her favorite performers are Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. “I could not watch them enough,” she says. “I would sit through their concert three times in one setting. Not only because [of] what they sing, but what they say in between their songs. It was just so endearing and I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I wanna be just like them.’”
3. __Get feedback__. Ask your band members and team members to critique your performance. Reba says performers can improve their stage presence and performance skills through [feedback](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-ask-for-feedback), so it is essential to have a team who are “your eyes and your ears, and report back to you. . . .That's what teamwork is all about.”
4. __Make eye contact__. Make eye contact with the audience while performing. This can ease stage fright and help the audience invest in your performance. “The more you do it, the more comfortable you get,” Reba adds. Whenever she performs, even in a large auditorium, Reba makes “an effort to see everybody in the audience. People will come back after the show and say, ‘Oh my gosh, you were singing that song right to me.’”
5. __Perform through nervousness__. Nervousness is a natural part of live performance, no matter if it’s your first time or hundredth time performing. “For anybody who's dreading live performances because of nerves, accept that as a gift,” Reba says. “Turn that into anticipation. The adrenaline that you get from that nervousness—make it positive. Make good out of bad.”
6. __Tell a story__. Show the audience who you are and showcase your point of view to them. Reba tells the audience stories between songs at her concerts. These transitions provide the audiences with context and a special experience. “Folks in the audience can listen to you on the radio or at home on a record player, a CD player, wherever,” she says. “But, to hear this little special story you're gonna tell, give some of your personality to them, that's rare.”
Become a better musician with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Reba McEntire, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, St. Vincent, Itzhak Perlman, Tom Morello, and more.
Performing live in front of an audience allows artists to showcase their material and provides an outlet for creativity. Learn tips on how to perform live from world-class country music singer Reba McEntire.

Performing live in front of an audience allows artists to showcase their material and provides an outlet for creativity. Learn tips on how to perform live from world-class country music singer Reba McEntire.

Reba McEntire on Performing Live: 6 Live Performance Tips

<a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/reba-mcentire-teaches-country-music' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/reba-mcentire-teaches-country-music","linkCopy":"Reba McEntire","category":null}'>Reba McEntire</a> is a world-class country music singer and songwriter. Reba topped the Billboard charts with her “Can’t Even Get the Blues” in 1983 and became one of the most popular country musicians in the late twentieth century. Throughout her decades-long career, the singer has accumulated twenty-four hit singles, three Grammy wins, and 28 albums certified platinum, gold, or silver. She currently holds the record for the female artist with the most CMA Award nods, with a whopping 50 nominations. Reba has also found success as an actor and TV star in the early 2000s, best known for “Buffalo Girls,” “Is There Life Out There?” and her starring role in the sitcom “Reba.” To date, Reba has released more than 30 albums and singles.

Who Is Reba McEntire?

Live performance has existed as part of human culture for thousands of years. It includes live music performances, theater performances, and dance performances. Artists can capture performances on video or on audio, but performing live in front of audiences is an opportunity to showcase their artistry and connect with audiences.For singers like Reba McEntire, live performance requires physical stamina, vocal prowess, memorization skills, and stage presence. Artists must have the ability to command an audience, physically perform up to an hour’s worth of music, remember an entire set list and accompanying choreography and movement, and fill an auditorium with their voice. “Performing is really important to an artist because it gives them an outlet of all their energy and their creativity and their need to be on stage,” Reba says.

What Is Live Performance?

Reba McEntire has performed live for more than forty years, in venues big and small. Follow her tips to put on a show for a live audience: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Create a captivating setlist. Reba builds her setlist with her band members. The setlist should have a beginning, middle, and end, and feature a mix of songs that audiences know and love and songs with special significance. “Your first song has to be something that gets everybody excited [that] you&#39;re there,” Reba says. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Find inspiration. Reba watches other performers to see how they grab the audience’s attention and command the stage. Among her favorite performers are Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. “I could not watch them enough,” she says. “I would sit through their concert three times in one setting. Not only because [of] what they sing, but what they say in between their songs. It was just so endearing and I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I wanna be just like them.’” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Get feedback. Ask your band members and team members to critique your performance. Reba says performers can improve their stage presence and performance skills through <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-ask-for-feedback' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-ask-for-feedback","linkCopy":"feedback","category":null}'>feedback</a>, so it is essential to have a team who are “your eyes and your ears, and report back to you. . . .That&#39;s what teamwork is all about.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Make eye contact. Make eye contact with the audience while performing. This can ease stage fright and help the audience invest in your performance. “The more you do it, the more comfortable you get,” Reba adds. Whenever she performs, even in a large auditorium, Reba makes “an effort to see everybody in the audience. People will come back after the show and say, ‘Oh my gosh, you were singing that song right to me.’” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Perform through nervousness. Nervousness is a natural part of live performance, no matter if it’s your first time or hundredth time performing. “For anybody who&#39;s dreading live performances because of nerves, accept that as a gift,” Reba says. “Turn that into anticipation. The adrenaline that you get from that nervousness—make it positive. Make good out of bad.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Tell a story. Show the audience who you are and showcase your point of view to them. Reba tells the audience stories between songs at her concerts. These transitions provide the audiences with context and a special experience. “Folks in the audience can listen to you on the radio or at home on a record player, a CD player, wherever,” she says. “But, to hear this little special story you&#39;re gonna tell, give some of your personality to them, that&#39;s rare.” </li></ol>

How to Perform Live: 6 Tips from Reba McEntire

Become a better musician with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Reba McEntire, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, St. Vincent, Itzhak Perlman, Tom Morello, and more.

Want to Learn More About Music?

Performing live in front of an audience allows artists to showcase their material and provides an outlet for creativity. Learn tips on how to perform live from world-class country music singer Reba McEntire.

Performing live in front of an audience allows artists to showcase their material and provides an outlet for creativity. Learn tips on how to perform live from world-class country music singer Reba McEntire.


Reba McEntire standing in an empty auditorium, smiling at the camera.

performing-live-tips-from-reba-mcentire

Your comfort zone is the area of your life in which you feel like everything is in its right place. It encompasses the behaviors, habits, and places you turn to when you’re on autopilot. It’s a metaphorical place where there’s little to no risk and where you never have to face your fears. 

Staying in your comfort zone can manifest in a wide variety of ways. Perhaps you go out to eat at the same place each Friday rather than ever trying a new restaurant. Maybe you stay at a stable job rather than ever striking out to pursue a long-held dream or desire. 

There’s nothing wrong with having a comfort zone; however, to evolve as a human being, you must step out of your comfort zone periodically to challenge yourself and explore new things. Without leaving comfort to enter this sort of growth zone, you’ll remain stagnant in both your personal and professional growth.
You must leave your comfort zone to live up to your full potential. Here are a few reasons why disrupting your daily routine and getting out of your comfort zone is so important:

- __To achieve your dreams__: Renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow placed self-actualization at the apex of his [hierarchy of needs](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-the-5-levels-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs). In other words, he thought becoming the full-fledged version of your unique self is the most important thing you can ever do. To reach your full potential, however, you must leave your mundane and ordinary comfort zone.
- __To build your confidence__: To develop self-confidence, you need to challenge yourself. As you take small steps to acquire new skills, you will realize there is no difference between the successful people you admire and yourself. Each time you achieve a new goal, you’ll see you have what it takes to succeed and gain a new level of [confidence](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-be-more-confident). 
- __To conquer your fears__: When you get to the end of your comfort zone, you’ll have to act with courage. If your default mode is to run away from your fears, you’re not alone. Human beings are hardwired to stay in their comfort zones. You have to go against your innate biological programming to try new and scary things. But when you do so, you might discover you had nothing to worry about in the first place.
It’s easy for people to operate with a fixed mindset. They want to believe things can remain how they are, for better or for worse, often out of a [fear of change](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fear-of-change). These self-imposed limitations might stifle you, but they do provide a great deal of comfort and predictability. 

Setting goals, facing your fear of failure, and leaving your comfort zone might feel like a direct threat to your well-being. In reality, doing these things will enable you to maximize your sense of personal fulfillment.
Learning to grow takes courage, tenacity, and an openness to risk. Take these steps to get out of your comfort zone:

1. __Adopt a growth mindset__. Leave behind your fixed mindset about how life is or should be. To grow, you must believe it’s possible for things to be better than they are now. Personal development takes trial and error, so be just as ready to fail as you are to succeed. Still, it’s the only way to get out of a rut and achieve your full potential.
2. __Seek out new challenges__. The same path will take you to the same destination every time—you’ll need to take different routes to achieve different results. Your options to challenge yourself are endless. You could try [public speaking](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-public-speaking) for the first time, learn a musical instrument, get a new job, or even go skydiving. As you do so, keep in mind the Yerkes–Dodson Law, which states you are capable of performing at your highest level in scenarios that test you or [stress](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-reduce-stress) you out a little. However, avoid situations that completely overwhelm you.
3. __Set manageable goals__. Break down each [goal](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals) into a series of baby steps. You run the risk of becoming discouraged if you try to do too much at once. For instance, suppose you live in California, want to visit New York, and are afraid of flying. You could take several short plane flights to nearby destinations first to get yourself ready to one day visit the East Coast. Regardless, always remember a single step forward is a one hundred percent improvement over taking zero steps at all.
Getting out of your comfort zone can take a lot of motivation and preparation. Here are three tips to keep in mind as you set out to try new things:

1. __Ask what you want out of life__. Define what you are looking for in your lifetime. Ask yourself where you want to be in one year, five years, even ten years. Plot out the skill set necessary to make it to any given goal you set in the time you prescribe. Maybe your goals are even simpler. 
2. __Look for support__. Reach out to friends, family members, and coworkers for support on stepping out of your comfort zone. They can offer you new [perspectives](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook) on how to [build confidence](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-confidence). For that matter, you might be able to face some of your mutual fears together.
3. __Reframe your fears__. When you think of fear as something [negative](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cognitive-distortions), you’re less prone to want to face it. Instead, think of the things that scare you as opportunities. Every time you overcome one of them, you’ll prove to yourself you can do far more than you anticipated. The worst-case scenario you have in your mind is nothing compared to a life spent without ever challenging yourself to become the best version of who you can be.
Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.
It takes a lot of courage to step out of your comfort zone. Challenging yourself can be uncomfortable and even frightening, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit in countless ways. By taking just a few small steps forward each day, you can jumpstart your personal growth and achieve things you never would have imagined you could accomplish.

It takes a lot of courage to step out of your comfort zone. Challenging yourself can be uncomfortable and even frightening, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit in countless ways. By taking just a few small steps forward each day, you can jumpstart your personal growth and achieve things you never would have imagined you could accomplish.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: How to Challenge Yourself

Your comfort zone is the area of your life in which you feel like everything is in its right place. It encompasses the behaviors, habits, and places you turn to when you’re on autopilot. It’s a metaphorical place where there’s little to no risk and where you never have to face your fears. Staying in your comfort zone can manifest in a wide variety of ways. Perhaps you go out to eat at the same place each Friday rather than ever trying a new restaurant. Maybe you stay at a stable job rather than ever striking out to pursue a long-held dream or desire. There’s nothing wrong with having a comfort zone; however, to evolve as a human being, you must step out of your comfort zone periodically to challenge yourself and explore new things. Without leaving comfort to enter this sort of growth zone, you’ll remain stagnant in both your personal and professional growth.

What Is a Comfort Zone?

You must leave your comfort zone to live up to your full potential. Here are a few reasons why disrupting your daily routine and getting out of your comfort zone is so important:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">To achieve your dreams: Renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow placed self-actualization at the apex of his <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-the-5-levels-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-the-5-levels-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs","linkCopy":"hierarchy of needs","category":null}'>hierarchy of needs</a>. In other words, he thought becoming the full-fledged version of your unique self is the most important thing you can ever do. To reach your full potential, however, you must leave your mundane and ordinary comfort zone. </li><li class="">To build your confidence: To develop self-confidence, you need to challenge yourself. As you take small steps to acquire new skills, you will realize there is no difference between the successful people you admire and yourself. Each time you achieve a new goal, you’ll see you have what it takes to succeed and gain a new level of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-be-more-confident' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-be-more-confident","linkCopy":"confidence","category":null}'>confidence</a>. </li><li class="">To conquer your fears: When you get to the end of your comfort zone, you’ll have to act with courage. If your default mode is to run away from your fears, you’re not alone. Human beings are hardwired to stay in their comfort zones. You have to go against your innate biological programming to try new and scary things. But when you do so, you might discover you had nothing to worry about in the first place. </li></ul>

Why Is Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone Important?

It’s easy for people to operate with a fixed mindset. They want to believe things can remain how they are, for better or for worse, often out of a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fear-of-change' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fear-of-change","linkCopy":"fear of change","category":null}'>fear of change</a>. These self-imposed limitations might stifle you, but they do provide a great deal of comfort and predictability. Setting goals, facing your fear of failure, and leaving your comfort zone might feel like a direct threat to your well-being. In reality, doing these things will enable you to maximize your sense of personal fulfillment.

Why Is It Difficult to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Learning to grow takes courage, tenacity, and an openness to risk. Take these steps to get out of your comfort zone:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Adopt a growth mindset. Leave behind your fixed mindset about how life is or should be. To grow, you must believe it’s possible for things to be better than they are now. Personal development takes trial and error, so be just as ready to fail as you are to succeed. Still, it’s the only way to get out of a rut and achieve your full potential. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Seek out new challenges. The same path will take you to the same destination every time—you’ll need to take different routes to achieve different results. Your options to challenge yourself are endless. You could try <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-public-speaking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-public-speaking","linkCopy":"public speaking","category":null}'>public speaking</a> for the first time, learn a musical instrument, get a new job, or even go skydiving. As you do so, keep in mind the Yerkes–Dodson Law, which states you are capable of performing at your highest level in scenarios that test you or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-reduce-stress' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-reduce-stress","linkCopy":"stress","category":null}'>stress</a> you out a little. However, avoid situations that completely overwhelm you. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Set manageable goals. Break down each <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals","linkCopy":"goal","category":null}'>goal</a> into a series of baby steps. You run the risk of becoming discouraged if you try to do too much at once. For instance, suppose you live in California, want to visit New York, and are afraid of flying. You could take several short plane flights to nearby destinations first to get yourself ready to one day visit the East Coast. Regardless, always remember a single step forward is a one hundred percent improvement over taking zero steps at all. </li></ol>

How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Getting out of your comfort zone can take a lot of motivation and preparation. Here are three tips to keep in mind as you set out to try new things:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Ask what you want out of life. Define what you are looking for in your lifetime. Ask yourself where you want to be in one year, five years, even ten years. Plot out the skill set necessary to make it to any given goal you set in the time you prescribe. Maybe your goals are even simpler. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Look for support. Reach out to friends, family members, and coworkers for support on stepping out of your comfort zone. They can offer you new <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook","linkCopy":"perspectives","category":null}'>perspectives</a> on how to <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-confidence' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-confidence","linkCopy":"build confidence","category":null}'>build confidence</a>. For that matter, you might be able to face some of your mutual fears together. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Reframe your fears. When you think of fear as something <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cognitive-distortions' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cognitive-distortions","linkCopy":"negative","category":null}'>negative</a>, you’re less prone to want to face it. Instead, think of the things that scare you as opportunities. Every time you overcome one of them, you’ll prove to yourself you can do far more than you anticipated. The worst-case scenario you have in your mind is nothing compared to a life spent without ever challenging yourself to become the best version of who you can be. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.

You’re Worth It

It takes a lot of courage to step out of your comfort zone. Challenging yourself can be uncomfortable and even frightening, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit in countless ways. By taking just a few small steps forward each day, you can jumpstart your personal growth and achieve things you never would have imagined you could accomplish.

It takes a lot of courage to step out of your comfort zone. Challenging yourself can be uncomfortable and even frightening, but it’s a worthwhile pursuit in countless ways. By taking just a few small steps forward each day, you can jumpstart your personal growth and achieve things you never would have imagined you could accomplish.


step-out-of-your-comfort-zone

Social facilitation is a theory in psychology that suggests people have a tendency to be more productive or have higher performance when they are in the presence of others. This includes the real presence of other people in work environments as well as the implied, imagined, or digital presence of others. Social facilitation is also grouped into coaction effects—or when two people work on the same task work together as coactors—and audience effects, which is when a person completes a task in front of others or in front of an audience.

The opposite of social facilitation is social loafing, which is when the presence of an audience or another person actually makes a person lose focus or makes a certain type of task more difficult.
Norman Triplett investigated the theory of social facilitation; in 1898, he made the observation that cyclists performed better when they were competing against others as opposed to simply trying to beat their own time. Triplett later continued his social facilitation research when he performed an experiment in which he had children perform a simple task with a fishing reel. He found that half of the children worked faster when working along with others, while the other half were either slower or had equal performance. He published the results, titled “The Dynamogenic Factors in Pacemaking and Competition,” in The American Journal of Psychology and called this effect drive theory.

In 1920, the psychologist Floyd Allport labeled the stress-induced performance enhancement of the social interactions activation theory. In 1966, social psychologists Robert Zajonc and Stephen Sales proposed their dominant response theory in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. They found that social facilitation improved performance for simple tasks a person is comfortable with but impaired performance for complex tasks.
There are three main contributors to social facilitation:

1. __Affective__: Another person’s presence creates a sense of anxiety and apprehensions as they perform the task. These affective factors create a drive to perform better and receive a better evaluation.
2. __Cognitive__: The mere presence of others can help improve focus and prevent distraction during tasks. For some people social facilitation can improve focus on task performance while for others it can be a distraction. 
3. __Physiological__: Having an audience or a partner working alongside you can create a higher arousal level and drive you to perform well. The physical arousal from social facilitation can make difficult tasks feel like easy tasks.
Many psychologists have continued to study social facilitation effects. Many different theories and approaches explore the effects of social facilitation, including the: 

- __Evaluation apprehension hypothesis__: This theory, also called the evaluation approach, suggests that the evaluation from others or judgment from our peers in social situations is what leads to an enhancement in performance. 
- __Distraction-conflict theory__: The distraction-conflict theory—presented by Robert Baron—suggests that in social situations, a person faces a conflict: Give attention to a person or give attention to a task. This conflict actually enhances individual performance of the task.
- __Self-presentation approach__: The self-presentation approach suggests that people become concerned with how they appear in front of an audience; they desire to look competent. Charles Bond and Linda Titus presented this theory in 1983 in a piece titled “Social facilitation: A meta-analysis of 241 studies” in the Psychological Bulletin.
- __Yerkes–Dodson law__: The Yerkes–Dodson law states that a person’s performance on a task while in the presence of others will depend on if the task is simple or complex.
Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) for exclusive access to video lessons taught by business luminaries, including Sara Blakely, Chris Voss, Robin Roberts, Bob Iger, Howard Schultz, Anna Wintour, and more.
Social facilitation is the theory that people perform better when in the presence of others, like a coworker or an audience. This phenomenon is partly due to the fact that someone might feel anxiety or fear if another person is evaluating them, which can increase their motivation.

Social facilitation is the theory that people perform better when in the presence of others, like a coworker or an audience. This phenomenon is partly due to the fact that someone might feel anxiety or fear if another person is evaluating them, which can increase their motivation.

Social Facilitation: Definition and Origins

Social facilitation is a theory in psychology that suggests people have a tendency to be more productive or have higher performance when they are in the presence of others. This includes the real presence of other people in work environments as well as the implied, imagined, or digital presence of others. Social facilitation is also grouped into coaction effects—or when two people work on the same task work together as coactors—and audience effects, which is when a person completes a task in front of others or in front of an audience.The opposite of social facilitation is social loafing, which is when the presence of an audience or another person actually makes a person lose focus or makes a certain type of task more difficult.

What Is Social Facilitation?

Norman Triplett investigated the theory of social facilitation; in 1898, he made the observation that cyclists performed better when they were competing against others as opposed to simply trying to beat their own time. Triplett later continued his social facilitation research when he performed an experiment in which he had children perform a simple task with a fishing reel. He found that half of the children worked faster when working along with others, while the other half were either slower or had equal performance. He published the results, titled “The Dynamogenic Factors in Pacemaking and Competition,” in The American Journal of Psychology and called this effect drive theory.In 1920, the psychologist Floyd Allport labeled the stress-induced performance enhancement of the social interactions activation theory. In 1966, social psychologists Robert Zajonc and Stephen Sales proposed their dominant response theory in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. They found that social facilitation improved performance for simple tasks a person is comfortable with but impaired performance for complex tasks.

Origin of the Term Social Facilitation

There are three main contributors to social facilitation:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Affective: Another person’s presence creates a sense of anxiety and apprehensions as they perform the task. These affective factors create a drive to perform better and receive a better evaluation. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Cognitive: The mere presence of others can help improve focus and prevent distraction during tasks. For some people social facilitation can improve focus on task performance while for others it can be a distraction. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Physiological: Having an audience or a partner working alongside you can create a higher arousal level and drive you to perform well. The physical arousal from social facilitation can make difficult tasks feel like easy tasks. </li></ol>

Contributing Factors to Social Facilitation

Many psychologists have continued to study social facilitation effects. Many different theories and approaches explore the effects of social facilitation, including the: <ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Evaluation apprehension hypothesis: This theory, also called the evaluation approach, suggests that the evaluation from others or judgment from our peers in social situations is what leads to an enhancement in performance. </li><li class="">Distraction-conflict theory: The distraction-conflict theory—presented by Robert Baron—suggests that in social situations, a person faces a conflict: Give attention to a person or give attention to a task. This conflict actually enhances individual performance of the task. </li><li class="">Self-presentation approach: The self-presentation approach suggests that people become concerned with how they appear in front of an audience; they desire to look competent. Charles Bond and Linda Titus presented this theory in 1983 in a piece titled “Social facilitation: A meta-analysis of 241 studies” in the Psychological Bulletin. </li><li class="">Yerkes–Dodson law: The Yerkes–Dodson law states that a person’s performance on a task while in the presence of others will depend on if the task is simple or complex. </li></ul>

Approaches to Social Facilitation

Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> for exclusive access to video lessons taught by business luminaries, including Sara Blakely, Chris Voss, Robin Roberts, Bob Iger, Howard Schultz, Anna Wintour, and more.

Want to Learn More About Business?

Social facilitation is the theory that people perform better when in the presence of others, like a coworker or an audience. This phenomenon is partly due to the fact that someone might feel anxiety or fear if another person is evaluating them, which can increase their motivation.

Social facilitation is the theory that people perform better when in the presence of others, like a coworker or an audience. This phenomenon is partly due to the fact that someone might feel anxiety or fear if another person is evaluating them, which can increase their motivation.


Coworkers sitting at a wood table working independently 

social-facilitation

In human psychology, the spotlight effect refers to the belief that others are watching and observing someone, often in a larger group or crowd, even when they are not. Usually, this phenomenon occurs when something atypical happens. A party guest, for example, might break a drinking glass. The spotlight effect leads this person to believe the other guests are judging them while they clean it up or that everyone will remember the incident long after the gathering.

This self-focused state can make people feel like a spotlight is on them, leading to [social anxiety disorders](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/social-anxiety) and poor [mental health](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health). Psychologists Thomas Gilovich, Victoria Husted Medvec, and Kenneth Savitsky coined the term “spotlight effect,” which first appeared in the journal *Current Directions in Psychological Science* in 1999 and later had attributions in the *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology* and *Journal of Experimental Social Psychology*.
Psychologists have observed the spotlight effect in experiments, but it is also a part of daily life for some people. Consider the following experiments and everyday examples:

1. __Embarrassing T-shirt__: In the 1990s, Thomas Gilovich, Victoria Husted Medvec, and Kenneth Savitsky put college students in [T-shirts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-dress-up-a-t-shirt) with images of Vanilla Ice, Barry Manilow, and other figures who, at the time, were perhaps embarrassing to the students. The experiment showed people drastically overestimate the number of people who pay attention to others. In the assessments, the students felt many more people were looking at their shirts. In contrast, other participants who were not wearing the shirt had difficulty recalling who was actually on the shirts.
2. __Group discussions__: Whether you’re at work, in class, or in another communal setting, group discussions can alter your mental state. Sometimes people will feel others, such as peers or coworkers, are judging their input or questioning their worth when, in reality, other people are listening quietly.
3. __Minority spotlight bias__: This bias occurs when people feel unrepresented or otherized in certain situations. The minority spotlight bias often overestimates how much others pay attention to behaviors and actions. Unfortunately, in some cases, minority spotlight bias can occur because of [unconscious bias](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/unconscious-bias-explained) and racism.
The spotlight effect can happen when a person craves the observation of a group or intensely fears attention. In some cases, the spotlight effect can result from an egocentric bias, the tendency to have a higher opinion of oneself than others. Another related phenomenon is the false-consensus effect, when people overestimate how many others share their thoughts and beliefs.

The spotlight effect can lead to the illusion of transparency, the tendency to overestimate how much others know of your mental state. Prolonged difficulty with the spotlight effect can make people more [self-conscious](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-stop-being-self-conscious) and increase their social anxiety. People who experience the spotlight effect feel uncomfortable in public and incapable of being their best selves in group settings.
The spotlight effect is a cognitive [bias](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-identify-bias) that gives power to negative thoughts. Try these tips for combating the psychological phenomenon:

- __Discuss your feelings with others__. Sharing your own perspective with others and hearing their opinions can help you understand the over exaggeration of the spotlight effect.
- __Pay attention to reactions__. Pay attention to others’ responses to your own actions. You might find you exaggerate their reactions in your head. Ask for [feedback](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-ask-for-feedback) in group work settings and social situations to clarify how people feel so you are not guessing their thoughts and imagining the best or worst.
- __Try cognitive behavioral therapy__. If you often experience a heightened self-focused state, seek the help of a therapist. CBT is a [type of therapy](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-therapy) that aims to identify patterns and reframe negative thoughts.
Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.
The spotlight effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person believes others are looking at them in social situations and that they are the center of attention when they are not. Learn about causes and examples of the spotlight effect.

The spotlight effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person believes others are looking at them in social situations and that they are the center of attention when they are not. Learn about causes and examples of the spotlight effect.

Spotlight Effect Examples: How to Overcome the Spotlight Effect

In human psychology, the spotlight effect refers to the belief that others are watching and observing someone, often in a larger group or crowd, even when they are not. Usually, this phenomenon occurs when something atypical happens. A party guest, for example, might break a drinking glass. The spotlight effect leads this person to believe the other guests are judging them while they clean it up or that everyone will remember the incident long after the gathering.This self-focused state can make people feel like a spotlight is on them, leading to <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/social-anxiety' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/social-anxiety","linkCopy":"social anxiety disorders","category":null}'>social anxiety disorders</a> and poor <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health","linkCopy":"mental health","category":null}'>mental health</a>. Psychologists Thomas Gilovich, Victoria Husted Medvec, and Kenneth Savitsky coined the term “spotlight effect,” which first appeared in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science in 1999 and later had attributions in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

What Is the Spotlight Effect?

Psychologists have observed the spotlight effect in experiments, but it is also a part of daily life for some people. Consider the following experiments and everyday examples:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Embarrassing T-shirt: In the 1990s, Thomas Gilovich, Victoria Husted Medvec, and Kenneth Savitsky put college students in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-dress-up-a-t-shirt' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-dress-up-a-t-shirt","linkCopy":"T-shirts","category":null}'>T-shirts</a> with images of Vanilla Ice, Barry Manilow, and other figures who, at the time, were perhaps embarrassing to the students. The experiment showed people drastically overestimate the number of people who pay attention to others. In the assessments, the students felt many more people were looking at their shirts. In contrast, other participants who were not wearing the shirt had difficulty recalling who was actually on the shirts. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Group discussions: Whether you’re at work, in class, or in another communal setting, group discussions can alter your mental state. Sometimes people will feel others, such as peers or coworkers, are judging their input or questioning their worth when, in reality, other people are listening quietly. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Minority spotlight bias: This bias occurs when people feel unrepresented or otherized in certain situations. The minority spotlight bias often overestimates how much others pay attention to behaviors and actions. Unfortunately, in some cases, minority spotlight bias can occur because of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/unconscious-bias-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/unconscious-bias-explained","linkCopy":"unconscious bias","category":null}'>unconscious bias</a> and racism. </li></ol>

3 Spotlight Effect Examples

The spotlight effect can happen when a person craves the observation of a group or intensely fears attention. In some cases, the spotlight effect can result from an egocentric bias, the tendency to have a higher opinion of oneself than others. Another related phenomenon is the false-consensus effect, when people overestimate how many others share their thoughts and beliefs.The spotlight effect can lead to the illusion of transparency, the tendency to overestimate how much others know of your mental state. Prolonged difficulty with the spotlight effect can make people more <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-stop-being-self-conscious' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-stop-being-self-conscious","linkCopy":"self-conscious","category":null}'>self-conscious</a> and increase their social anxiety. People who experience the spotlight effect feel uncomfortable in public and incapable of being their best selves in group settings.

Why Does the Spotlight Effect Happen?

The spotlight effect is a cognitive <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-identify-bias' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-identify-bias","linkCopy":"bias","category":null}'>bias</a> that gives power to negative thoughts. Try these tips for combating the psychological phenomenon:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Discuss your feelings with others. Sharing your own perspective with others and hearing their opinions can help you understand the over exaggeration of the spotlight effect. </li><li class="">Pay attention to reactions. Pay attention to others’ responses to your own actions. You might find you exaggerate their reactions in your head. Ask for <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-ask-for-feedback' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-ask-for-feedback","linkCopy":"feedback","category":null}'>feedback</a> in group work settings and social situations to clarify how people feel so you are not guessing their thoughts and imagining the best or worst. </li><li class="">Try cognitive behavioral therapy. If you often experience a heightened self-focused state, seek the help of a therapist. CBT is a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-therapy' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-therapy","linkCopy":"type of therapy","category":null}'>type of therapy</a> that aims to identify patterns and reframe negative thoughts. </li></ul>

How to Overcome the Spotlight Effect

The spotlight effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person believes others are looking at them in social situations and that they are the center of attention when they are not. Learn about causes and examples of the spotlight effect.

The spotlight effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person believes others are looking at them in social situations and that they are the center of attention when they are not. Learn about causes and examples of the spotlight effect.


Woman speaking with her therapist about spotlight effect.

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