(via HBR.org) Scott Stossel, editor of The Atlantic magazine, notes in his newly published book, My Age of Anxiety, that researchers have known for almost a century that moderate levels of anxiety improve performance in humans and animals while, obviously, too much anxiety impairs performance.

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So how do you find the right balance? How do you get yourself into the performance zone where anxiety is beneficial?…For those who choke during presentations to board members or pitches to clients, for example, but probably aren’t what you’d call clinically anxious, the best approach may be (to redirect) your mind, in the moment, to something other than how you’re comporting yourself, so you can allow the skills and knowhow you’ve worked so hard to acquire to automatically kick into gear and carry you through. Your focus should not be on worrying about outcomes or consequences or on how you’re being perceived but simply on the task at hand. Prepare thoroughly (but not too obsessively) in advance; then stay in the moment. If you’re feeling anxious, breathe from your diaphragm in order to keep your sympathetic nervous system from revving up too much. And remember that it can be good to be keyed up: the right amount of nervousness will enhance your performance.

Continue reading at the source article: The Relationship Between Anxiety and Performance (HBR.org)