The Look & Sound of Leadership How to Conquer Nervousness
Mar 5, 2026
A theorist recounts a high-stakes courtroom moment and the panic it triggered. Practical tactics are shared: write a positive ending, track small wins, externalize the self-critical voice, and treat nerves as a bodily state you can work through. Analyzes Emma Stone’s public-anxiety moment and points to a free PDF and resources for practicing the techniques.
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Economist Overcomes Testimony Blackout
- Tom Henschel recounts Ashish, an economist who feared testifying because past nerves caused a trance-like babbling episode during a board presentation.
- Ashish learned to reframe the event as a hopeful intellectual contest and successfully enjoyed testifying before the judge.
Sock Puppet Externalizes The Nasty Voice
- Tom tells his acting story where stage nerves made him go deaf to a co-star, prompting a clever coping strategy.
- He created a sock puppet named Nasty to externalize his self-critical inner voice and regain choice over attention.
Nervousness Is Just A Body Condition
- Nervousness is a bodily condition (like hunger or thirst) and does not necessarily predict performance failure.
- Recognizing nerves as neutral reduces their power and allows you to continue doing your job effectively.