When it comes to communication, stress and anxiety loom really large. Here is a helpful exchange i had with stamford psychology professor elia crumb this topic. What insight does your work on stress provide to those of us suffering from communication, anxiety and stress? Around speaking, people have been studying stress and anxiety for over a century now. And what we've found is that most people have the mind set that stressful situations are inherently debilitating. There's a whole side of stress that shows that it can have enhancing qualities on our cognitive functioning, our physical health and on how we behave and interact with others.
“Eighty five percent of people report being nervous about speaking in public, and I believe the other 15% are lying,” says Matt Abrahams, lecturer in Strategic Communication and podcast host. “What is it about speaking in front of others that makes most of us nervous? Well, those of us who study this ubiquitous fear believe it is part of our human condition.”
In this special episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams returns to one of the podcast's main goals: helping people become more confident communicators. Listen to interviews with Stanford University professors who research stress as they share insights into why these feelings affect our communication, and how to overcome them.
To find more resources on public speaking anxiety, visit stanford.io/AMP.
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