Episode #17: Stage Fright Got you?

Why does stage fright hit capable professionals so hard?

Stage fright is not a personality flaw. It’s a predictable stress response that shows up when you must perform publicly—hands shaking, knees knocking, face flushing, pulse racing, and your mind going blank. In Japan, this is so common that there are even groups dedicated to helping people overcome it. The “stage” isn’t only a literal platform; it’s any moment you’re required to speak in front of others at work, in the community, or at major life events. And that frequency rises as your career progresses.

Mini-summary: Stage fright is normal, widespread, and gets more frequent as responsibilities increase.

Career growth in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies) often comes with more visibility. You may be rewarded with higher pay and a bigger title—but also the obligation to report, brief, persuade, and inspire. That moment you step up into management or leadership, you’re pushed out of your Comfort Zone and into a new expectation: speaking professionally in front of stakeholders.

Mini-summary: Promotions expand your scope—and speaking skill becomes part of the job, whether you planned for it or not.

What does a real Japanese example of this look like?

Tetsuya Miyaki’s story shows the pattern clearly. As a low-level municipal bureaucrat, he had limited public exposure. After promotion to department head, he suddenly faced public presentations and questions from the municipal assembly. Later, as mayor of a city ward, the speech burden multiplied—and so did his stress. His ambition outpaced his speaking ability, making success painful rather than enjoyable. “I feel like I barely made it through my term,” he lamented.

Mini-summary: Without speaking capability, leadership roles in Japan can become emotionally exhausting—even for talented people.

Why do smart people ignore this risk until it’s too late?

Most professionals keep their “eye off the ball.” They work hard today without looking ahead to the next level. The higher you go in any organisation, the more your ability to speak persuasively “comes with the territory.” Yet many people don’t prepare. They avoid speeches, delay training, and hope the requirement won’t arrive soon.

Mini-summary: People focus on doing the job now and miss the speaking demands that future roles will require.

You might survive, but at a high cost. The author’s first public speech in Tokyo in 1983 was a painful example: a planned 30-minute talk collapsed into 8 minutes, delivered too fast, read word-for-word, no eye contact, no pauses, no gestures, no warmth—just stress. Over time, repetition helped him improve, but he remained an amateur for years. The opportunity cost was enormous.

Mini-summary: Repetition alone can help, but it’s slow, stressful, and expensive in missed opportunities.

What changes when you get professional presentation training?

Taking Dale Carnegie’s High Impact Presentation Course was a turning point: two instructors, full video review, intensive coaching, and practical structure. The difference was not incremental—it was transformational. The author realised he could have spent decades building a stronger personal brand, accelerating career growth, and enjoying leadership instead of fearing it.

Mini-summary: High-quality coaching creates faster, deeper improvement than “learning by suffering.”

Stage fright doesn’t just make you nervous—it can knee-cap your growth. If you want to lead teams, influence decisions, or represent your organisation, you must be able to speak confidently and persuasively. It’s not a matter of if public speaking will be required, only when. The earlier you build the skill, the more control you have over your future.

Mini-summary: Speaking skill is a career multiplier; avoiding it is a career limiter.

How does Dale Carnegie Tokyo help professionals overcome stage fright?

At Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo (東京 / Tokyo), we help business professionals replace fear with structured confidence. Our プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training) is built for real workplace demands: clear messaging, logical structure, controlling nerves, audience engagement, and persuasive delivery. We serve leaders across 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies), supporting both individual growth and organisational performance.

We draw on:

• 100+ years of global expertise in leadership, communication, and presentations

• 60+ years of training experience in Tokyo (since 1963)

• Practical methods aligned with Japanese business culture and international standards

• Options that integrate リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training), 営業研修 (sales training), エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching), and DEI研修 (DEI training) when needed.

Mini-summary: Dale Carnegie Tokyo combines global methodology with Japan-specific delivery to build persuasive public speaking confidence.

• Stage fright is common and intensifies as your career advances.

• Promotions often require: reporting, presenting, and persuading at higher stakes.

• “Just doing it more” is slow; professional coaching accelerates mastery.

• Presentation confidence protects your growth and strengthens your leadership impact.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.