You are called upon to deal with friction in public settings almost every day. It could be big-time friction like a job interview, medium friction like starting a conversation with a stranger, or tiny friction like speaking up in a routine meeting.

This is sometimes referred to as performance anxiety, but I prefer to call it friction. You rub up against people all the time, worried about what they will think about you. Will you get hired, will you make a good impression, or will you blow it? Pressure mounts as you ponder the consequences.

The key to calming the friction is redirecting your focus away from you. Easier said than done, I get it. But, if altruistic values drive you, it might not be as hard as you think.

For example, I am deeply driven to help others. If I feel I’ve made things better for a client, an audience member or my family, I am deeply satisfied. I also feel in control and focused. I’m in my happy place.

The redirection of focus away from your potential public failure to the good you can do for others is not an original idea. Athletes and performers do it all the time. They might close their eyes and imagine the thrill or joy their audience will experience as a result of an outstanding performance.

Let’s take an employment interview as an example. The pressure is on. You need the job and so do people who count on you. Your reputation, your self-esteem, and your pocketbook weigh in the balance. The friction is intense, and you are terrified.

In this situation, it can be difficult to visualize the positive outcome for others, but it can be done. If you deliver an award-winning interview you will:

·        Make the interviewer’s day.

·        Provide security for you and your family.

·        Serve as a role model for others who respect and admire you.

As you embark on your next anxiety-producing challenge, I invite you to shift your focus away from yourself. Stand strong knowing you are confronting friction head-on, confidently performing for the benefit of others.

#confidence #performance #coach #careercoachcertification #jobinterview