Managing Performance Anxiety

Abstract

Performance implies action within a stressful environment. Tensions abound, and performance anxiety is an inevitable by-product of any kind of performance. It tempts role-players to remain safely overdistanced and uninvolved and makes them reluctant to volunteer for fear of failure or ridicule. Lines of tension radiate from the group; from the workshop situation; from the actor (occasionally); and from the facilitator. The author offers a number of ways to manage this anxiety in role-players and the facilitator. Facilitators need to eliminate the contagion of their own anxiety first. Emphasis on safety and group learning, non-threatening techniques to ease people into role-play, involvement of participants in setting the scene, artful placement of the role-player’s chair, and appropriate humour reduce anxiety to manageable proportions.

Performance anxiety is an inevitable by-product of any kind of performance. It tempts us to remain safely overdistanced and uninvolved and makes us reluctant to get up and have a go for fear of failure or ridicule. This chapter offers ways to manage this anxiety in members of the group, and in yourself.