Reader, One year ago, I met Doris on a walk. I was the slowest in the group by a mile, but she stayed back and talked with me. We connected instantly and now, a year and twenty-something podcast episodes later, we may not walk together but we are still talking, and still turning life’s awkward moments into leadership insights.
This week on the podcast, we celebrated our one-year anniversary and tackled a topic that most people can relate to but few talk about with honesty: nervous energy.
What Does Nervous Energy Look Like?
It shows up as clammy palms, a racing heart, sweaty armpits (sorry, but true), or a mental loop of self-doubt and fear. For me, it can also show up as 12-year-old-boy humor at the absolute wrong time. Fart jokes in an important meeting? Yes, it’s happened.
Sometimes nervous energy gets the best of us before we even begin.
I found myself spiraling before an important client meeting. I had done this work before, I knew my stuff, but the fear of messing it up, of reverting back to old habits, almost derailed me.
Transforming the Spiral
Here’s the truth: nervous energy is just untamed energy. And when we become aware of it, we can redirect it into something powerful.
In that client situation, my coach helped me realize that I was stuck thinking about how I behave when I’m nervous. So we flipped the script. For every negative behavior, we identified the positive opposite. Here’s how it played out:
Nervous Behavior: Talking too much > Positive Energy Swap: Listening more than I speak
Nervous Behavior: Blurting out responses > Positive Energy Swap: Thoughtful, intentional pauses
Nervous Behavior: Deflecting with humor > Positive Energy Swap: Using wit appropriately, not as a shield
Nervous Behavior: Asking defensive “why” questions > Positive Energy Swap: Asking open-ended “what” questions
That list became my anchor. I reviewed it before the meeting, reminded myself of my purpose, and walked in grounded. Spoiler alert: I got the client. But more importantly, I showed up as my best self.
But here’s the important thing. Nervous energy doesn’t mean you’re unprepared. It means you care. You don’t need to be fearless to show up fully, you just need to be willing…and keenly aware.
For me, the goal isn’t to eliminate the energy. It’s to tame it and make it work for me. Does that resonate with you?
If you’re finding yourself in a cycle of self-doubt or overthinking before an important moment, stop and ask: “What’s the positive energy version of this behavior?” Then try it on for size.
And if all else fails, leave the fart jokes at home. At least for the first meeting.
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A Little Bit About Regina
I'm Regina Taute (say Howdy Taute and you've pronounced it right) a seasoned talent leader with experience in leadership and organizational development. I started Collective Growth Coaching and Consulting to partner with organizations to develop wildly practical and effective talent strategies. As a credentialed coach and certified in MBTI and Hogan assessments, my passion lies in unlocking potential and driving sustainable growth by helping individuals and teams thrive in today’s evolving business world.
It would be my honor to join you for a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to help solve a current challenge with wildly practical solutions or to meet with you one-on-one to chat and get to know you.
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