Confronting your anxiety | @caroline-cavanagh | Giving Anxiety Leaership

25 Aug 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:54

Caroline Cavanagh cites a UK study showing 75% of people fear public speaking more than death. She argues this widespread anxiety blinds us to how much it costs people in everyday moments like introductions and Zoom calls, and warns that triggering someone's anxiety can make them defensive.

Chapters

It was the National Institute of Mental Health in the UK, research from last year, that says 75% of people fear public speaking, a higher level than death. No one in this room will have glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. And that can desensitize us to being aware of just how much it will cost someone emotionally to even talk to a person, a complete stranger beside them, and introduce themselves, or go into a Zoom room with strangers where the expectation is to contribute, or to stand up and give feedback. So be aware that not only may you be getting their inner dog to be alert, you may be unleashing that inner lion.