{"id":121662,"date":"2023-08-19T10:45:58","date_gmt":"2023-08-19T14:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=121662"},"modified":"2023-08-19T10:47:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T14:47:31","slug":"coping-strategies-can-ease-workplace-meeting-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=121662","title":{"rendered":"Coping Strategies Can Ease Workplace Meeting Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Capital Blue Cross \u2013 \u00a0THINK<\/a>\u00a0(Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and news on the latest health and insurance issues.<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

There are an estimated 11 million work meetings each day in the U.S., and the thought of attending them can be nerve-jangling, sweat producing, or even debilitating experiences for some. Coping strategies can help tame butterflies, while therapy and medication can be effective for more serious cases.<\/p>\n

Whether triggered by a fear of public speaking or discomfort in real or virtual settings, most people experience some level of anxiety about work-related meetings, according to Karie Batzler, director of Behavioral Health at Capital Blue Cross.<\/p>\n

With an estimated\u00a011 million work meetings each day in the U.S<\/a>., there is a lot of potential for a jangling nerves, sweaty palms, rapid heartbeat, and other symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe issue with respect to symptoms is how often do they occur, for how long, and do they stop you from doing your job or living your life?\u201d Batzler said.<\/p>\n

Coping strategies such as checklists or focused meeting preparation can help tame the butterflies for most, while therapy or medication is the answer for some.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who says they have never experienced (some form of meeting anxiety) is not being honest,\u201d said Jay Solomon, director of provider operations at Capital Blue Cross.<\/p>\n

On a nervousness scale of 1 to 10, Solomon puts himself at a \u201cone\u201d when meeting within his own department or with people he knows. That level jumps to about four, he said, when he is less familiar with meeting participants.<\/p>\n

For Megan Atticks, a communications specialist at Capital Blue Cross, mild meeting anxiety lurks in the memory of a difficult experience in a previous job in which her supervisor peppered her with seemingly unrelated and distracting questions during a presentation.<\/p>\n

Atticks puts herself at about \u201cfive\u201d on a nervousness scale of 1 to 10, but adds, \u201cIf there\u2019s a technical glitch, I quickly jump up to a nine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Batzler, Solomon, and Atticks say the absence of social cues such as body language, facial expression, and eye contact make virtual meetings more stressful.<\/p>\n

Their feelings are supported by a March study published in\u00a0“Trends in Cognitive Sciences,”<\/a>\u00a0and in a study on zoom fatigue published in\u00a0\u201cTechnology, Mind, and Behavior.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Whether meeting anxiety is rooted in a fear of public speaking, lack of preparation, unclear expectations, a previous negative experience, or even poor self-image, there are a host of easily accessible, non-medical coping strategies, according to Batzler. They include:<\/p>\n