Meeting Anxiety

All great speakers were nervous at first.

If you’re public speaking, imagine yourself feeling confident; if you’re nervous about a date and thinking, ‘I’m going to look like a dork,’ picture yourself being funny and witty instead. Then the confidence mindset will be more familiar to your brain than failure mindset.

10 tricks to feel more confident before a meeting:

1. Reflect on your strengths. You were asked to speak for a reason. Because of your experience, your insight and your hard work.
2. Breathe in for 4 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds. Imagine all that nervous energy leaving your body on the exhale.
3. Envision yourself in a past situation when you were successful at completing a challenging task. What helped you be successful then?
4. Seek out the cantankerous audience member beforehand and ask them what is on their mind.
5. Prepare and research. Know your answers to difficult questions and opposite views.
6. Where a power color. Teal, and other shades of blue are said to project confidence. 
7. Comfort. Wear clothing that is comfortable and professional, and that makes you feel good. Eat something that is light on the stomach 45 minutes before.
8. Loosen up. Talk on the phone with a friend or family member who makes you feel relaxed before a meeting, and then carry that feeling with you into the meeting.
9. Arrive early, by at least 10 minutes so that you can meet people as they arrive.  
10. Active constructive responding. Listen carefully to what others say and choose your replies wisely.

3 tips for after meeting:

1. Pat yourself on the back after it has ended!
2. Do something small to celebrate being finished.
3. Follow up with attendees to express your gratitude for their time.

Still feeling anxious? Get more support with CoachOgle.