Comments on: Three Steps to Kick Social Anxiety and Become Comfortable Approaching Anyone

By: JC

JC — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:15:10 +0000

I agree with Anxious M - it's not that simple. I am well aware of my irrationalities of shyness which borders on SA. I've forced myself many times to break through the fear but it has not ceased.

On the other hand, aside from slight nervousness, I have no issue addressing a room full of people to give either an acting performance or a presentation and rather enjoy it.

The two are NOT connected.

By: Anxious M

Anxious M — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:04:45 +0000

Social anxiety is not that simple. Most people with SA are 100% cognizant that their fears are irrational - that's why it's so stressful.

Your "Three Steps to Kick Social Anxiety" may apple to people who are just a bit shy, not people with actual SA, which requires a lot more than three steps to deal with.

By: blogTHOUSAND! › links for 2009-09-04

blogTHOUSAND! › links for 2009-09-04 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:01:48 +0000

[...] Three Steps to Kick Social Anxiety and Become Comfortable Approaching Anyone Keith Ferrazzi on social anxiety. (tags: howto professionaldevelopment blog career) [...]

By: Keith Ferrazzi: 10 Tips to Banish Your Public Speaking Fear for Good | DoisPontoZero

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:21:19 +0000

[...] admin Last week’s “Three Steps to Kick Social Anxiety” broke traffic records here. No doubt about it: Meeting new people puts us out of our comfort [...]

By: Waldo Waldman

Waldo Waldman — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:58:54 +0000

Though I have not written out these steps and this is my first time reading them laid out like this. I have found in my own life as a motivational speaker that the jitters just come. However, I get my blood pumping just like in the gym (because that is where I get my best ideas) and meetings just take care of themselves. It doesn't hurt that I have kind of a ready, fire...aim type personality.

Great article. Keep pushing it up!

By: 10 Tips to Banish Your Public Speaking Fear for Good

10 Tips to Banish Your Public Speaking Fear for Good — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:09:18 +0000

[...] week’s “Three Steps to Kick Social Anxiety” broke traffic records here. No doubt about it: Meeting new people puts us out of our comfort [...]

By: Gilda Bonanno

Gilda Bonanno — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:11:46 +0000

Keith, Thank you for your blog posts, your two great books and your fabulous presentations at the National Speakers Association Convention in Phoenix last month! One of my tried and true tricks to bust through nervousness when speaking to a group is to use a positive mantra. Rather than thinking negative thoughts before I begin to speak, like "don't screw up" or "what if I forget what I want to say?" I repeat my positive mantra as a means of boosting my confidence and focusing on the audience (because my speech should be about them, not me). I teach this technique to people who are anxious about speaking in public and encourage them to find a mantra that is personally meaningful and believable. It could be a song title (Aretha Franklin's "RESPECT" comes to mind), a line from a poem or anything that makes them feel powerful and confident. And it has to be strong enough to drown out the negative, "Joy-Sucker" voice in their heads that undermines their confidence and makes them less able to convey their knowledge and experience to the audience. My personal mantra is "You go, girl!" (accompanied by a mental fist in the air).

By: Jeff Liindsay

Jeff Liindsay — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:48:16 +0000

Parents can also help their kids grow up with comfort in public speaking by looking for and creating opportunities. I grew up in a religion where young people get opportunities to give short talks occasionally and that really helped. Scouting, various clubs, drama, debate all can give these opportunities. But you can create them in your own family and in gatherings with friends and relatives, where children are given experiences to contribute, to share a thought, give a little speech, act in a skit, etc. Practice and exposure lead to comfort.

By: Janet Boulter

Janet Boulter — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:08:53 +0000

great tips Keith. I also recommend if people are nervous about presenting- practice, practice and practice. Most nerves develop when we think we won't come across as credible to our audience. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be with your program, the less nervous you will be.

By: ShannonA

ShannonA — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:34:28 +0000

Alcohol always worked for me! Not too much, just enough to get me out there!