Anxiety is a signal, and it's not always bad. It's a way for your body to say, "Hey, pay attention! Something's different, and it might be a threat."
We feel anxious in unfamiliar circumstances, situations and conditions. Dropped into the middle of the Amazon rainforest without preparation or supplies, you'd probably feel anxious...if not terrified. That's a good thing; it makes you alert to things to which you might not otherwise pay attention. And, many of the things you notice won't come with hints of whether they're good, bad or even important. That's what you'll have to figure out. And, that's what causes anxiety.
Dropped into the middle of a new work group without preparation or skills, you'll probably feel anxious, too. You'll be overwhelmed with too much information whizzing by, and you won't yet know which of it deserves your attention. That what you'll have to figure out. That's what your anxiety is telling you. That's why anxiety can be a good thing.
Anxiety Signals Learning
Invariably, anxiety is a signal; it says you have an opportunity to learn. And, if you pay close attention, time after time, you'll become progressively more comfortable and shed that anxiety. You will have learned how to cope with this (once unfamiliar) situation. Over time, you'll become assured and confident, and you can then help others through their anxiety in this situation.
The first issue you have to decide is whether this anxiety is healthy or not. When you're working with others and the discussion turns to a subject that makes you uncomfortable, you need to determine the source of your feelings. Is the discussion one that violates your personal values (e.g., someone's just told a joke you find offensive)? This is an example where anxiety may be alerting you to protect yourself. On the other hand, if the subject also makes you curious, anxiety may be your signal that you're about to learn something new that will help you in the long run.
Toxic Anxiety
If your body (or your organization) is in a permanent state of anxiety, you need to seek outside help; that's just not healthy. Sometimes, (say, when you're uneasy because the discussion has turned to something you find unethical, immoral or illegal) you have to decide between fight and flight. Whether you stay engaged in the discussion and object to the direction of the dialog ("fight"), or choose to leave the dialog ("flight"), you relieve your anxiety with action. If you just sit and stew, avoiding action, your anxiety level is likely to increase until it's so intolerable you have to make a choice. But that choice may be made out of desperation instead of reason.
Healthy Anxiety
When a challenge exceeds your skill and competency, you'll probably feel anxious. If you're scared by the magnitude of the opportunity, or worried you might not measure up, you're almost certainly experiencing healthy anxiety. You may or may not succeed...but you definitely will be exposed to lessons.
Relax And Notice
Once you've determined that you're in a learning situation, you can relax and let your anxiety guide your attention. Some people even find that kind of anxiety exhilarating, and they seek it out.
The most appropriate response to healthy anxiety is to actively engage in "not knowing" (see "Virtue of Ignorance,"  , September, 2002). If you fan your anxiety, you may be erecting mental barriers to learning that will make it even harder. When you can transform anxiety to curiosity, you're more receptive to learning.
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