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Part 4 :
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Overcoming anxiety |
Identifying Anxieties
When studying the core skill of communication, Outcome 3 is without doubt the one that people feel most concern about. It’s also the Outcome that most people say they got the most out of after they’ve completed it.Delivering a talk or taking part in discussions is difficult for a variety of reasons. However, with some preparation, some practice, and knowing how to do it, you’ll soon feel confident and able to do it.
Why are people anxious? Well, a large part of anxiety is connected with not knowing how to do something. Can you remember the first time you were asked to dance, or the first time you rode a bike? Did you feel anxiety then?
Of course you did, and now you can do these things without feeling anxious about them.
So, what has changed?
Well, the ‘tasks’ haven’t changed. Dancing is still dancing and riding a bike is still riding a bike. What has changed is that you now know how to do them, and so you feel confident about doing them.
This means that anxiety is not associated with the ‘task’ (i.e. dancing or riding), but with knowing how to do it.
At the moment, you may not know how to do it. This Study Section is going to show you exactly how to go about preparing for presentations and meetings, and taking part in them.
