Do you ever wake up with butterflies?

Do you ever have a niggle somewhere in your body and you can’t quite name why?

You might notice your chest is tight, a heat in your body, butterflies in your stomach, a racing heart.

Our comms roles can be incessantly busy, and our body gives us clues to take care.

Powering through our workday followed by wine, Netflix, or social media may distract us in the short-term, but the niggle comes back and for some it can be a constant low-level murmur that doesn’t go away.

What helps?

Pausing, and NAMING what the cause of the anxiety might be, gives you more clarity and can help you feel better.

It also helps you figure out what useful next step you can take.

Take a look at these potential causes and see what you think…

1. An emotion you haven’t addressed

Angry at the way a colleague has treated you? Hurt at being overlooked for a promotion? Fearful about the current job market?

All valid and normal feelings. Notice and name the emotion.

?2. Expectation of making a mistake

If you’re new to leading a team, running your first ever global town-hall, or interviewing for a role you really want, you may be afraid that you’ll mess it up.

Consider where you’re concerned about making an error.

3. Anticipating humiliation, rejection, or betrayal

Is there a regular meeting you attend where you believe the group doesn’t have your back?

Do you have a colleague who often rejects your ideas?

Think about it. It may surprise you how often this is a cause for anxiety.

4. Experiencing an unprecedented level of success, happiness, fun

Your comms event received the best ever reviews. Or you met an amazing potential partner outside of work.

Along with the joy of that, you may have a sense of being on alert, “what will go wrong now?” or, “there is no way this is going to last.”

5. Placing trust in someone or something that is not trustworthy

Perhaps you shared a vulnerable story with a colleague who gossips.

Untrustworthy can also include the inner critic in your head that causes you self-doubt, "I didn’t do that activity as well as I should have… I’m not good enough…"

6. Feeling out of control

Working constantly without time to pause, ground, think, feel, express can cause anxiety.

7. Unexpressed grief, loss, or mourning

Many communicators have shared that the loss of a loved one can impact them at work months or years later.

Being made redundant, or losing teammates in a restructure, are also forms of grieving.

Experiencing anxiety is part of being human for many people, whatever the root causes.

Naming the cause gives you more clarity and helps you feel better. You’ll also get clearer about what action you want to take, if any.

What clues does your body give you to take care of yourself? What tips would you offer to comms pros who may be feeling a niggle today?

How can I help?

Are you curious about working with a leadership coach who specialises in internal communications and how feelings play out in the workplace?

I can help you make better decisions, build stronger relationships, be more creative and FEEL better.

And you’ll grow your leadership presence and influence.

Take advantage of my free 30-minute session by emailing [email protected] (no selling, just talking).

Until then, come and connect with me on Linked In if we're not already connected.

If you have any comms colleagues who you think would benefit from this newsletter, please pass it along.

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With thanks to Leza Danly and Jeanine Mancusi for their original work on behaviours, causes and steps for dealing with anxiety.

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