Managing Anxiety at Work Meetings

One of the most common times people feel anxious at work is at meetings where you are expected to speak in front other people. Here's a few tips on how to best approach those meetings: Generally these type of work meetings involve a group of people sitting around taking it in turns to speak. Most people anxious about speaking in public dread their turn. To get around this try the opposite approach. Pretend to yourself and the group that you are actually dying to speak. Before you enter the room, say to yourself: "I'm going to speak when any reasonable opportunity presents itself" Be enthusiastic about speaking! Before the meeting kicks off, talk to everyone around you. Don't sit there in silence. If you have a short presentation to make and you don't like the idea of having to do it in one go, break it up by asking those present questions during your talk. This puts the focus back on the group and can help you feel less under pressure. If everyone has to speak it can really take the pressure off to be first up but if you can't be first then start asking questions of the other speakers when they are finished if that is appropriate. Come across as really interested and engaged. Give the impression to the room that you want to speak and to be heard. Speaking up works because the anxiety only gets worse if you sit there in total silence waiting to be called upon. Don't wait for them to call you - speak out. If you take the above advice and it comes to your turn to speak, you won't feel the same level of pressure because everyone in the room is already used to your voice and you don't feel the pressure of hearing your voice for the first time in the room. Everyone is used to you and you are used to speaking to them. Great speakers love an opportunity to talk and present. You can train yourself to be like that and it starts by pretending to yourself that you really want that opportunity to be in the lime light. Be hungry for it. Instead of holding back and resisting the opportunity to speak in public, you chase after it! You might think:"OK but how can I try this out before my next meeting?" One way is to join a debating group in your area and get started there right away. There are lots of places to practice. Dive in, speak up. And remember this. If you are actually interested in what you are discussing and you get others interested you have nothing to worry about. Enthusiasm for the subject can make you forget any shyness you have.