Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

183. Rethinks: How Anxiety Can Fuel Better Communication

Feb 4, 2025

Kelly McGonigal, a Stanford GSB lecturer and best-selling author, discusses harnessing anxiety to enhance communication skills. She emphasizes reframing anxiety as a sign of care, which can deepen engagement during presentations. McGonigal shares how to channel nervous energy into confidence and connection, and the significance of empathy in tailoring messages. Her insights reveal how vulnerability can empower authentic communication, highlighting the essentials of curiosity, passion, and self-reflection for impactful dialogue.

27:14

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Episode guests

Kelly McGonigal

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Quick takeaways

Reframing anxiety as a sign of care allows individuals to utilize stress for enhancing communication and authenticity.

Effective communication prioritizes audience engagement by fostering empathy and curiosity, inviting productive dialogue and collaboration.

Deep dives

Reframing Anxiety as a Tool for Success

Anxiety can be transformed into a beneficial force in communication rather than a hindrance. It acts as a signal that highlights the significance of the moment, helping individuals recognize that their nervousness stems from a desire to engage meaningfully. Rather than trying to suppress their anxiety, individuals can embrace it by acknowledging that it means they care about the task at hand. This shift in perspective allows for a more authentic expression of oneself, enabling one to harness the energy of anxiety positively, particularly in scenarios like teaching or public speaking.

Intro

2min

Reframing Anxiety in Communication

14min

Transformative Joy: The Power of Movement and Communication

3min

Empowerment Through Communication

4min

The Three Essential Ingredients of Effective Communication

3min

Reframe anxiety as a strength and use stress to enhance your communication.

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.

This episode is brought to you by Loom. Try Loom for free today at loom.com/thinkfast.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:38) - The Benefits of Anxiety in Communication
(05:57) - Presence and Anxiety in Performance
(07:37) - Common Communication Mistakes
(11:36) - Encouraging Audience Engagement
(14:40) - Crafting Effective Communication
(16:37) - The Joy of Movement
(19:45) - The Final Three Questions
(25:52) - Conclusion

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