69. Feeling Nervous? How Anxiety Can Fuel Better Communication

Summary

In this episode of 'Think Fast, Talk Smart' podcast, host Matt Abrahams interviews Kelly McGonigal, a lecturer at Stanford GSB and bestselling author. They delve into strategies for managing anxiety to enhance communication, emphasizing the value of embracing anxiety as a sign of caring and presence. McGonigal shares insights on effective communication, focusing on clarity, authenticity, and audience engagement. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding one's audience and crafting messages that resonate, as well as the role of movement and exercise in fostering joy and connection, as explored in McGonigal's latest book.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Communication Confidence: Embracing anxiety as a sign that you care can help you feel more confident and portray that confidence to others.
• 🎓 Academic Communication: Kelly McGonigal emphasizes the importance of clear and relatable communication for academics, especially when presenting research outside of academic settings.
• 🔄 Mindset Shift: Changing the internal dialogue from self-doubt to embracing anxiety as a sign of engagement and caring can be empowering.
• 🏃‍♂️ Positive Use of Energy: Recognizing anxiety as a physical state that can serve you, especially in roles you are meant to be in, like teaching, can help channel nervous energy positively.
• 🤝 Connection Through Anxiety: Anxiety can be a sign of presence and connection, indicating that the situation is meaningful and important to you.
• 📈 Avoiding Abstractions: When communicating, especially about complex topics like research, it's crucial to avoid abstractions and focus on concrete details and examples.
• 🤔 Audience-Centric Communication: The goal of communication should be to provoke thought and engagement from the audience, not just to convey information.
• 📊 Show, Don't Tell: Whether it's through data, photos, or stories, showing your work and its impact can be more effective than simply telling about it.
• 💡 Start with the Outcome: Craft communication by starting with the desired outcome for the audience and working backward to determine the necessary content and approach.
• 🌟 Embrace Joy in Movement: Exercise and movement are not only beneficial for physical health but also for mental well-being and can be a direct source of joy and happiness.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the 'Think Fast, Talk Smart' podcast?

The podcast focuses on strategic communication, with an emphasis on managing anxiety and leveraging its benefits for effective communication.

Who is Matt Abrahams and what is his role in the podcast?

Matt Abrahams is a teacher of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business and he is the host of the 'Think Fast, Talk Smart' podcast.

What is Kelly McGonigal's academic background and what does she teach?

Kelly McGonigal is a lecturer at Stanford GSB, teaching a class on presentation and communication skills for academics.

What are some of the books written by Kelly McGonigal?

Kelly McGonigal has authored best-selling books such as 'The Willpower Instinct', 'The Upside of Stress', and 'The Joy of Movement'.

How does Kelly McGonigal view anxiety in relation to communication?

Kelly McGonigal sees anxiety as a sign that she cares about the situation at hand, and she uses this to embrace and channel the energy into her communication.

What does Kelly McGonigal suggest as a way to reframe anxiety?

She suggests reframing anxiety as a signal of meaning or caring, which can help individuals stay wholehearted and engaged in the moment.

What is the common mistake that Kelly McGonigal observes in students when it comes to communication?

One common mistake is the tendency to focus on abstract concepts and details rather than making the communication relatable and understandable to a broader audience.

How does Kelly McGonigal approach the mindset of proving one's knowledge during communication?

She encourages individuals to focus on sparking interesting thoughts and questions in the audience rather than just trying to prove their own knowledge or the correctness of their research.

What is the 'Joy of Movement' and how does it relate to communication?

The 'Joy of Movement' is Kelly McGonigal's latest book that explores how exercise helps find happiness, hope, connection, and courage, which are all elements that can enhance communication.

What is the 'joy workout' that Kelly McGonigal mentions in the podcast?

The 'joy workout' is an exercise routine designed to make people happy by incorporating movements that are naturally expressive of joy, set to uplifting music.

What is the best communication advice Kelly McGonigal has ever received, according to her?

The best communication advice she has received is to 'trust that people are adequate to their experiences', which emphasizes acceptance and faith in the audience's ability to handle and understand the content.

Who is Natalie Goldberg and why does Kelly McGonigal admire her as a communicator?

Natalie Goldberg is an author and Zen teacher known for her distinct voice and ruthless authenticity. Kelly McGonigal admires her for her grounded approach and ability to convey the common humanity in her teachings and writings.

What are the three ingredients for successful communication according to the advice Kelly McGonigal received?

The three ingredients are the face of wonder (curiosity and open-mindedness), the face of creative fire (passion and drive), and rude magnificence (the courage to share difficult truths or insights).