036: Working with Fear with Amanda Tobe

Evolve: A New Era of Leadership

In this episode, we're joined by Amanda Tobe, who takes us on a transformative journey through the world of conquering fear and becoming a fearless leader in the workplace.

Amanda begins by sharing her inspiring story of what led her to venture into this new field, offering valuable insights into her personal journey and the pivotal moments that shaped her path. Explore how fear can manifest in the workplace as Amanda delves into this topic, shedding light on the various ways it can impact our professional lives and how we can recognize and address it effectively.

Leadership often entails public speaking, and Amanda takes a deep dive into the different types of public speaking that leaders encounter. Discover valuable strategies to excel in these situations. Amanda also explores the critical distinction between tolerating discomfort and overriding fear, providing practical advice for managing fear in a way that empowers you.

Learn how to harness the physical symptoms of fear to become more activated and in control, turning fear into a source of strength. Discover the initial steps to managing physiological symptoms and how to ride the wave of emotions, transforming fear into a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

For executives and leaders grappling with the fear of public speaking, Amanda shares key aspects of overcoming this challenge, equipping you with the tools to confidently address this common fear. Amanda also delves into the emotions that lie at the heart of our fears, helping us understand and address the root causes that often hold us back.

Prepare for the unexpected by creating a Plan B in case things don't go according to plan, and explore Amanda's four-step process for processing emotions effectively.

Amanda Tobe, drawing upon her five years of HR experience in the corporate world, embarked on a transformative career shift back to her original passion, public speaking. Specializing in combating performance anxiety, including public speaking and interview jitters, Amanda empowers professionals, leaders, and students to bolster their career confidence. Her expertise spans assertiveness training, emotional intelligence development, and effective communication, assisting individuals, teams, and organizations in honing their communication prowess.

Amanda also guides clients in pursuing meaningful careers aligned with their values. Her focus areas encompass workplace confidence challenges, such as public speaking assurance, career transitions, interpersonal skills (emotional intelligence), and stress management. Alongside her research on job interview anxiety, Amanda actively disseminates her knowledge through blog posts and podcast appearances, making scientific insights accessible to the public and contributing to her mission of enhancing professional confidence and development.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Amanda as we uncover the secrets to conquering fear, becoming a confident leader, and embracing the power of emotions in the workplace. We talk about:

• [3:40] What inspired her to get into this new field

• [5:05] How fear shows up in the workplace

• [7:10] The different types of public speaking as a leader

• [11:20] Tolerating discomfort vs. overriding fear

• [14:00] Getting activated by physical symptoms of fear

• [16:30] One of the first ways to manage physiological symptoms

• [18:00] Learning to ride the emotion wave

• [25:50] Challenging fear of public speaking amongst executives

• [31:30] Key aspects of navigating big emotions

• [32:10] The emotions that are at the heart of what we're afraid of

• [34:05] Creating plan b in case things don't go according to plan

• [35:15] Four steps for processing emotions

• [47:05] A moment where she really learned a lot about herself

• [50:00] A practice or ritual that keeps her nervous system calm and regulated

• [52:10] A song or genre of music that makes her feel connected to something bigger than herself

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Find Your Voice by Caroline Goyder

• A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

Connect with Amanda

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amandatobe/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatobe/

• https://www.amandatobe.com/

Connect with me

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynswora/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/

• Twitter: ​​https://twitter.com/CarolynSwora

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolynsworkplaceculture/

• Website: https://www.carolynswora.com/

• Contact: [e-mail]