Turning Nerves into an Advantage

Interviews can unsettle even the most experienced leaders, but nerves are not a weakness. They are simply your body’s way of recognising that something important is happening. The goal is not to remove nerves, but to use them. Preparation plays a major role here. When you rehearse your stories using clear frameworks, your mind has something solid to lean on, reducing the uncertainty that fuels anxiety.

Your physical state matters just as much as your thinking. Simple breathing techniques and light movement before an interview can steady your heart rate and calm your voice. Reframing nerves as energy also changes the experience. When you tell yourself you are alert and ready rather than anxious, that same adrenaline becomes focus and presence.

Perspective is the final piece. You are not walking into an interrogation. You are having a leadership conversation, and you are there because they already see potential in you. Decision makers are not searching for perfection. They want to see composure, authenticity, and self-awareness under pressure.

Practical tip
Before your interview, take three slow breaths using a four count in, hold, and out. Remind yourself that you are ready and that this is a leadership conversation, not a test.

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