5 Tips for Court Reporters to Overcome Performance Anxiety

By: Colleen Jilio-Ryan | Posted in: court reporter

Becoming a court reporter can be a very rewarding experience. Being good at the job and learning to handle the stress and performance anxiety associated with it is important if you want to be successful.

The following tips will help you gain an advantage when it comes to handling the performance anxiety and frustrations of the job:

1. Go Over Your Transcripts
   Go over your transcripts thoroughly. When you find an error, make sure to correct it as soon as possible. If you are transcribing in real time, you do not have enough time to find and correct possible errors. Court reporters are required to provide accurate, concise copy.

   Related Post: How Proofreading Transcripts Will Benefit Court Reporters

2. Log Your Errors
   Log each of your errors. This simple step will allow you to determine where the majority of your errors are made. It will show you where your weaknesses are and where you need to make improvements when it comes to letters and finger movements.

3. Practice Your Writing Skills
   You can use your error log to begin honing your writing skills. If you know what type of errors you are making, you can practice them in real-time. Spending 15 to 20 minutes a day honing your skills will dramatically increase your accuracy.

4. Talk to Another Court Reporter
   Talking to another court reporter will help you find new ways to handle the stresses of the job. It will also help you realize you aren’t alone. At some point, every court reporter has been overwhelmed due to the fast-paced environment of a court room.

5. Build Your Self-Confidence
   Build your self-confidence. Once you start to notice your errors and start to correct them, you will begin to gain confidence in your abilities to perform. As you continue to improve, you will be better in handling the stress and anxiety of the job.

Related Post: How to Handle Stress: 6 Tips for Court Reporters