A Harvard psychologist says this surprising trait can make you more successful
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
Perhaps the most striking observation she collected was this: "I don't mind if they're a little bit nervous; they're doing something big, something that matters to them, so it makes sense they'd be a little bit nervous."
In the book, Cuddy outlines two key reasons why a moderate amount of nervousness can be helpful in stressful situations.
For one, anxiety can be an adaptive response that keeps us alert to danger and things going wrong. Sometimes, Cuddy says, nervousness can also signal respect for the person you're interacting with.
Additionally, "some nervousness can even signal passion to others," she says. "After all, you wouldn't be nervous if it didn't matter to you, and you can't easily persuade an investor or potential client to buy into your idea if it's not clear that you care deeply about whether or not it succeeds."
In other words, if you're not nervous at all, the VC you're pitching or the interviewer you're meeting with might get turned off by your apparent lack of investment.
In a recent talk at the 92Y in New York, Cuddy used an example from the TV show "Shark Tank":
"The people [entrepreneurs] who I find most compelling are not the ones who come in super-energetic. They're actually quiet and sometimes they're nervous. You can be nervous; that's okay. In fact, it sometimes signals that this is a serious thing and you really care about it."
The idea that it's okay to be nervous is closely linked to the concept of "presence," which Cuddy defines as being attuned to and able to express your full potential.
Of course, as many of us already know, getting overly anxious can hurt your performance. The key to letting your nerves help instead of hurt you, Cuddy says, is to "avoid clinging to your nervousness."
In other words, try not to get anxious about being anxious.
Cuddy writes: "Notice it and move on."
- I'm an interior designer. Here are 10 things in your living room you should get rid of.
- Higher-paid employees looking for work are having a tough time, and it could be a sign of a shift in the workplace
- A software engineer shares the résumé he's used since college that got him a $500,000 job at Meta — plus offers at TikTok and LinkedIn
- 7 scenic Indian villages perfect for May escapes
- Paneer snacks you can prepare in 30 minutes
- Markets crash: Investors' wealth erodes by ₹2.25 lakh crore
- Stay healthy and hydrated: 10 immunity-boosting fruit-based lemonades
- Here’s what you can do to recover after eating oily food
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market