Report: Tim Walz Experiencing Heavy Stress Before VP Debate
What Walz, JD Vance and you can do to relieve anxiety and improve outcomes
It’s not a secret to many that public speaking can be an emotional stressor and thus it should not be a total surprise that Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign running mate — Tim Walz — is badly fighting his nerves leading up to the vice presidential debate.
“Talking to the aides who have coalesced around him in Minnesota and other supporters, Walz constantly comes back to how worried he is about letting Harris down, according to close to a dozen top campaign staffers and others who have been in touch with the governor and his team,” reports Edward-Isaac Dovere.
“He doesn’t want Donald Trump to win,” sources told Dovere. “He doesn’t want Harris to think she made the wrong choice.”
Walz’s unsurety and the pressure to perform he is feeling is leading to a level of overwhelm. There are steps he can take to best be ready to debate Vance. To begin with, Walz can remind himself he is trusted by Harris.
“Tim was selected for many good reasons,” says Diane Darling, a professional speaker and author at Skills4Today. “Kamala believes in him and this is a moment for him to believe in himself.”
Walz’s performance potential starts with how he interprets doubt and anxiety.
“He can imagine any negative self-talk is like a red car on the highway. Notice it and don't engage,” Darling says. “Just keep in your lane and stay focused on the destination.
“Others are championing him. Embrace the opportunity to go to a higher level… an upper limit that he may never have imagined before.”
It can also be helpful for Walz to come to learn and understand what isn’t always considered when preparing to publicly speak and then doing it, especially when the stakes are high
“Remind yourself that speaking is an act of service,” says Tim Toterhi, a chief human resources officer and a coach at Plotline Leadership. “If you have a message that's worth sharing, see it as a gift you are giving the audience. This will take the pressure off by turning the spotlight on those you want to help.”
Shifting the focus off oneself to others can improve our work.
“When we face moments of high pressure, like Tim Walz stepping into the vice presidential debate, our internal dialogue can be our greatest asset or our greatest enemy,” says Brooke Sprowl, a psychotherapist and the founder and clinical director at My LA Therapy, where she specializes in anxiety and communication, including peak performance and public speaking.
“The key to self-soothing is not about forcing confidence but about reframing our perspective. Instead of focusing on the fear of failure or the pressure to live up to someone else’s expectations, the most helpful self-talk centers on our own intentions.”
She elaborates on what the self talk can sound like.
“‘I’m here because I have something valuable to offer. I am prepared. My goal is to communicate authentically, not to be perfect,’” Sprowl offers as an example.
“Reminding ourselves that it’s okay to feel nervous and that nerves are often a sign of caring deeply, can create a more compassionate mindset.
“It’s about shifting from perfectionism to purpose, remembering that the real goal is connection, not flawless performance.”
Mindset addressed. Skill development and fundamentals are vital to lessen the likelihood of subpar experiences and feeling poorly afterward.
“Practice the pause. Most speakers rush when they feel under pressure,” Toterhi says.
“There is a natural tendency to convey everything you know about a subject. But that can overwhelm the audience.
“Instead of verbally waterboarding people with a flood of information they'll never recall, add some auditory white space to your speeches to allow them to digest your points.”
Style is important, maybe as much as or more so than the content.
“Engaging an audience is less about delivering the perfect words and more about how you communicate them,” Sprowl asserts. “Speaking as though you're having a genuine conversation, weaving in storytelling to captivate and varying your pitch, volume and tone creates a dynamic presence that can resonate more deeply than the content itself.”
What people focus on most leading up to a speaking engagement — in this case, a debate — and participating in one, may not be the most ideal and helpful approach.
“Preparation is vital but it’s more than memorizing facts or rehearsing lines,” Sprowl says. “The strongest performances come from grounding yourself in clarity — clarity about your message, your values and the core reason you’re speaking.”
She provides advisory to build competence, fluidity and excellence.
“Rehearsing out loud, especially in front of others, can help smooth out the rough edges of delivery. Practicing mindfulness techniques can also be a game-changer: Taking time to breathe, focus and center yourself before stepping into the spotlight allows you to enter the space with more presence and control,” Sprowl recommends.
The audience needs to know that a speaker cares.
“One of the most important practices is cultivating a sense of empathy for the audience, focusing less on how you’ll be perceived and more on what they need to hear from you,” Sprowl teaches. “This shift in perspective allows you to speak from a place of service rather than self-consciousness.”
High-level athletes are known for going through visualization exercises prior to competing. It’s something that Walz and anyone can consider applying.
“Visualization isn’t just a tool for athletes,” Sprowl says. “It’s a powerful psychological technique that can enhance performance across many domains, including public speaking.”
She goes on to explain its value.
“When we visualize ourselves performing well, we’re not just imagining an outcome; we’re conditioning our brain to feel more comfortable in that scenario,” Sprowl says.
“Visualizing the debate environment, imagining yourself delivering your message with clarity and confidence and even rehearsing how you’ll handle difficult questions or moments of tension, can help you feel more mentally prepared.
“Visualization works because it allows the brain to rehearse the event without the pressure of real-time performance, building neural pathways that make the actual moment feel less intimidating.”
Toterhi holds an appreciation for the practice, yet as an accompanying process.
“Visualization is good, but action is better,” he contends. “Know your opening and closing cold, as these are the most memorable parts. Middles can get messy and this is where visualization can help most.
“See yourself as presidential. Have you ever seen a true leader rush, run or fret over their smartphone? Probably not. That's because leaders project ‘I-have-it-covered’ stability. See yourself reacting with that level of coolness regardless of what variables come your way.”
Walz and Vance, communication wise, will hope to, in some manner, advance the campaign for their respective bosses, Harris and Trump, and at the same time, not do anything to harm their candidacy.
“Vance and Walz are supporting polarizing candidates in an election that will likely be decided by a handful of moderates in a few swing states,” Toterhi says. “They will be tempted to play it safe and ‘do no harm’ but that's the wrong strategy.”
He explains his reasoning.
“Both candidates will have to project rationality and stability to sway the few voters who are actually up for grabs. That means fewer attacks showing why the opponent is wrong and more facts demonstrating why you are right,” Toterhi recommends.
“Despite the name, swing voters want to move toward something, not simply away from the least bad choice.”
“Harm is done when people lie,” Darling says. “For starters, tell the truth and be your authentic self. Neither Tim or JD are running for president. Be humble and a champion of the number one (Harris or Trump) on the ticket.”
She suggests how each vice presidential candidate can do that for their campaign.
“Tim can show how he is a champion for his team — and as a coach, he gets that. JD can be humble and not compete or upstage Donald.”
How composed the two vice presidential candidates show themselves will largely determine how they are experienced, perceived, trusted (or not) and judged.
“Tim Walz and JD Vance need to remember that communication is not just about the words they choose, but the tone and approach they take,” Sprowl says.
”To avoid causing harm to their respective campaigns, they should focus on staying grounded in the values and messaging that their bosses’ campaigns are built. This means avoiding inflammatory remarks that could detract from the larger campaign narrative and remaining poised in moments of attack.”
Being human means being sensitive. That’s understandable. Meltdowns however don’t inspire confidence and trustworthiness.
“In debates, it's easy to get drawn into the emotion of the moment, but restraint and clarity will help them project the steadiness that voters often look for,” Sprowl says.
“Staying focused on core messages, calmly addressing criticism and exuding composure under pressure will ensure that they contribute positively to their campaigns without making unforced errors that could create controversy or division.
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