Despite their extra experience and authority, employees in senior positions are more prone to experiencing workplace performance anxiety than any other role, new research shows.
A study of 1,000 workplaces conducted by RADA in Business, the commercial subsidiary of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art that provides communication skills training for corporate individuals, finds senior directors feel workplace anxiety an average of ten times per month – twice the national average across the total UK workforce.
The report shows the highest rates of anxiety for directors are around communicating, affecting 94 per cent of those surveyed.
See also: What makes a good director?
Thirty-nine per cent of senior directors cite networking with new business prospects and pitching as the situations where they feel the most unsure about their performance. Furthermore, almost a third (31 per cent) say they are nervous of their ideas being shot down or being talked over, while a similar number (31 per cent) say they are fearful of people thinking less of them.
The next most-affected group was those in junior positions, with 92 per cent reporting the effects of anxiety around communicating. With most people expressing the pressure to make an impact – whether being interviewed for a new job, moving into a more senior role, or presenting to colleagues or customers – as the main situations that bring on anxious feelings the most.
In response to the widespread issue of workplace performance anxiety, RADA in Business has been working with leading UK companies to transfer dramatic techniques, such as play and improvisation, from a theatrical setting to a business environment.
Claire Dale, tutor at RADA in Business, comments, ‘Businesses looking to direct training towards tackling stage fright and feelings of anxiety when communicating in the workplace should focus first on the lowest and highest levels within their organisations.
‘In the same way an actor does before a performance, those in senior or leadership positions can benefit from making small but powerful shifts in their behaviour before facing a situation that triggers communication anxiety. This could involve grounding themselves through changes in their body language and stance, improving their physical presence and gravitas, or controlling their breath to create greater vocal power.
‘Flexibility is also key – being able to flex your working style to different audiences and situations is an effective tool for those in both senior and junior positions. This helps to build confidence in the given situation, increasing their impact and influence in the workplace.’
Further reading on anxiety in communication
