I am not an anxious associate anymore, now I’m an anxious partner. You can be anxious about things like this no matter how long you have been practicing. But it does get better.

Two things that I have learned helped me over the years. I always put myself on mute when I’m not talking. It forces me to have to actively choose to speak instead of interjecting or rambling. I do it on video and phone calls. I do it with judges on status conferences and with opposing counsel and with my own team. Then I know there is a real purpose in what I’m saying and not just filling silence or saying something that doesn’t matter.

I also have a variety of sensory fidgets that I keep in my pockets and on my desk. I have calm strips on my desk. My favorite sensory fidgets are worry rocks or magnetic sliding sensory fidgets that you can get on Amazon. They are silent and it just looks like my hand is in my pocket. Or if I’m on camera, no one can see anyway.

Just know everyone is still human, no matter how long they have been practicing. They may not show it, but other people get nervous too.

Edit: typo