Public Speaking - To Fear Or Not To Fear
Most of us have had to do some public speaking at some point in our lives, whether it be for business reasons, or speaking at a social event. Some people find it easier than others. I don't know anyone who absolutely loves to get up and speak in front of an audience but it is one of those fears in life that you can learn to overcome if you want to succeed in this area.
When I first became President of the Oakville Milton & District Real Estate Board in 2007 I was sent with 9 other Board Presidents to Toronto for 2 day intense media training session. Our facilitators were well known Canadian journalist Fraser Kelly and television host and interviewer Peter Feniak. We were instructed on how to handle and give interviews with the media and how to deal with the tough questions. We individually had to make speeches in front of the class. We were videotaped and critiqued, not only for our speech but for our presentation skills. Until I saw the tape I had no idea I was rocking side to side while speaking. How did I know? I was busy concentrating on getting the words out.
Each person's speech was on a topic of our choice. There were many nerves and stumbles first time around but by the end of the second day it was amazing to see how each speech had
remarkably improved. Not only did I learn a lot about myself but by the end of the 2 days, it was amazing the bonding that had taken place between the participants.
Today the fear of public speaking ranks higher than the fear of death. Scary, isn't it?
Here is a top ten list of Global Phobias.
1. Fear of public speaking (Glossophobia)
2. Fear of death (Necrophobia)
3. Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia)
4. Fear of darkness (Achluophobia, Scotophobia or Myctophobia)
5. Fear of heights (Acrophobia)
6. Fear of people or social situations (Sociophobia)
7. Fear of flying (Aerophobia)
8. Fear of open spaces(Agoraphobia)
9. Fear of thunder and lightning(Brontophobia)
10. Fear of confined spaces(Claustrophobia)
It's nice to see that fear of REALTORS didn't make the top ten list.