Kelly McGonigal is a lecturer at Stanford GSB who teaches presentation and communication skills for academics. She is also the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct, The Upside of Stress,. Her latest book is The Joy of Movement, How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage. Matt Abrahams: I am super excited to get time with you. Kelly says she looks forward to talking about all of them.
Stress, anxiety, nervousness — when these feelings inevitably arise, lecturer Kelly McGonigal says it’s not about making them go away, but using them to your advantage.
“What I have come to value about anxiety,” says McGonigal, “is it’s a sign that I care.” As she explains, feelings of stress alert us to things that matter to us and help us stay present in the moment — particularly useful, she says, when it comes to communication.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McGonigal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to channel stress toward more effective communication and to a deeper connection to our own purpose and meaning.
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