The Anxious Achiever | Morra Aarons-Mele | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Learn to manage anxiety at work with practical strategies and conversations, improving mental health.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] NEWTON CHENG: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Talks at Google. My name is Newton Cheng and I'm director of health and performance here at Google. Today, we welcome Morra Aarons-Mele. Morra is a leading voice on mental health in the workplace and beyond. She is an author, podcast host, and leading speaker and consultant in the field ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍⚕️ Acknowledging anxiety and seeking professional help is crucial in managing mental health challenges in the workplace.
• 🍳 Breaking tasks into smaller chunks and giving anxiety a job can help individuals overcome anxiety paralysis.
• 😤 Managers play a significant role in creating a psychologically safe environment for their team to address mental health concerns.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Normalizing conversations around anxiety and modeling vulnerability can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Morra Aarons-Mele's personal experience with anxiety lead her to become an advocate for mental health in the workplace?

Morra's own struggles with anxiety and mental health challenges from a young age drove her to share her experiences and create a safe space for professionals to address their mental health concerns.

Q: How can individuals break out of anxiety paralysis when faced with overwhelming tasks or decisions at work?

By breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, acknowledging the anxiety, giving it a job, and seeking support, individuals can effectively manage anxiety paralysis and make progress in challenging situations.

Q: How can managers create a psychologically safe environment to address anxiety and mental health with their team?

Managers can model boundary vulnerability, normalize conversations around anxiety, and create a supportive space for team members to share their struggles and seek help when needed.

Q: What strategies can individuals use to manage anxiety in meetings and around coworkers?

Techniques such as slowing down time, practicing paired listening, breaking tasks into bite-sized chunks, and externalizing anxiety to work collaboratively with it can help individuals manage anxiety in meetings and communicate with coworkers effectively.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Morra Aarons-Mele, a mental health advocate, discusses her journey with anxiety in the workplace and how she found purpose in helping others with similar struggles.

• She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing anxiety in a professional setting.

• Practical tips such as breaking tasks into smaller chunks, acknowledging anxiety, and seeking support are crucial in managing workplace anxiety.