No matter how good we think we are at communication, knowing how to speak up at work involves facing tough conversations, and is certainly no easy feat.
We’ve all had experiences where we’ve felt anxious or hesitant before a communication interaction. This is known as communication apprehension, and it’s a common problem in the workplace.
What should I say? How will they respond? With these questions running through our minds, it’s difficult to know the best way to approach a conversation. If you find yourself feeling lost in these types of situations, if you’re frantically googling “how to speak up at work” then this communications podcast is the perfect start to finding your voice.
How to speak up at work – overcoming communication apprehension
In this week’s episode of the Commical Podcast, Marie speaks with Tamara Jawad, PR Manager of the Parramatta Eels. Tamara talks about diving headfirst into hard conversations. She takes us through her own experience tackling communication apprehension when at 3 months pregnant she received a call about her dream job.
Open and honest, Tamara shares some of the fears she faced when having to break the news to her prospective employer. From potentially losing the opportunity, to managing being a mother and professional – she discusses how she was able to overcome her apprehensions. She also highlights the importance of being transparent, and why we need to cut the fluff and get to the truth.
In this moving story, Tamara proves that overcoming communication apprehension and learning how to speak up at work is more accessible than we think. She shares the inspiring response of her employer, and her own tips on finding calm and addressing difficult situations.
Tamara’s experience shows us that there are things we can’t control, and that’s okay. We can’t always anticipate how someone will react; however, we can be prepared, grounded and take ownership of our actions. It’s important to believe in ourselves, and that no matter how hard a conversation is, there are always solutions and opportunities waiting for us.
Tamara Jawad is one of Australia’s finest experts in the field of PR and Communications. She has been working in the industry for over 15 years and is currently the PR Manager of Parramatta Eels National Rugby League Club.
Tamara began her career working for Australian media intelligence company, Media Connect. Since then she’s worked in B2B communications and for leading global communications network Weber Shandwick and Text 100.
Fusing communication expertise and stand-up comedy makes for a unique take on a business podcast, and very easy listening. Commical explores a range of interpersonal, group and mass communication topics through the experiences of my talented guests.
Light in tone, heavy in value – download now from all good podcast apps or listen online now.
