How To Use My ‘Cover Cough’ Technique To Reduce Performance Anxiety When Communicating

It’s natural for us to hold our breath when we’re stressed…

it’s part of the well-known fight or flight reaction.

As you may have experienced in the past – when you’re feeling stressed, your voice becomes “high” and “short”.

Just when you need it most – getting up on the stage, giving a presentation or making an important phone call – your breath deserts you.

This has a BIG consequence when you run into tension - and you desire to communicate clearly and effectively to those around you.

When you’re in “stress breathe” - you won’t be able to think and people will tell you that you speak too fast. 

Why?

Put simply - there is not enough oxygen going to the brain.

Remember the physiology – the diaphragm goes stiff (the minute you feeling stressed) – that’s exactly what takes the breath.

Our challenge is to release the diaphragm – to release by “kicking it” from underneath it.

A hard and fast exert.

In a few repetitions – this will kick the diaphragm free.

I call this simple yet powerful technique, the “Cover Cough”.

You cough in a way where the stomach goes in, kicking the diaphragm into action. 

(It’s such a great tool to use without getting awkward at a boardroom table)

Remember: if you get your breath wrong, you can potentially get everything wrong.

So we must learn to override the strong, quite natural responses.

Drop me a comment below if you’d like me to know more about how to use this simple yet powerful technique to boost your communication skills as a leader.

~Dr. Louise Mahler