How to overcome mankind's #1 fear - public speaking

[packman]

Read somewhere that given a choice of having a spider crawl over you or giving a public speech, most people would go for the spider.
Here's a site which gives a simple formula for public speaking:

Among them-

1. The Greeting

2. State the Event

3. Establish Common Ground

4. State Why You're Speaking

5. Call for Action

Example:

Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind.

Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today.

We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore.

We will be united in our common interests.

Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation.

We're fighting for our right to live, to exist.

And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice:

"We will not go quietly into the night!

We will not vanish without a fight!

We're going to live on!

We're going to survive!"

Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!


https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/3mb1vn/lpt_how_to_give_a_quick_impromptu_speech_or_toast/

[BarstowCowboy]

1. My brother in law is getting married next week

My BIL is getting married next week. I think I'm going to use that thing you just quoted as my toast. I'll let you know how it goes.

[packman]

3. The post link gives a wedding toast as an example

You can just use that and people will speak about it for generations.

[treestar]

2. Join Toastmasters

for a while. Cures it for good.

[malthaussen]

4. I thought the number one fear was falling face-first into a wood chipper.

... tied to the tracks when a train was due.
... eaten by rabid hamsters.
... having the Jehovah's Witnesses come to the door.

I've never had this fear of public speaking, as it happens. I've always just focused on my complete and utter contempt for the audience. Hey, it works for Donald Trump.

-- Mal

[LWolf]

5. #1 solution:

Do it all the time. You become desensitized.

At least, that's what worked for me.

[pink-o]

6. There are some of us who are born performers

and have never been afraid of Public Speaking. When I was a child, I got laughs and applause just for my spontaneous outbursts bcuz for awhile you just have to be cute and everyone loves you. Then you cross the line from cute to obnoxious--and since you live for the accolades, you find another way to stay the center of attention.

I went into drama and music so that I could retain that focus. I'm sure I was insufferably egotistical, but now I'm old and I would rather not have any attention at all. However...if you ask me to speak or perform in public, I'll do it without any self-consciousness or shyness, thanks to my desperate need to be noticed when I was younger.

There must be others on DU like me. I have two friends who will cut you for the limelight, and are wonderfully entertaining at every party. But are we really in the minority? I admit to having no clue why anyone would shun the opportunity to express themselves in front of an audience, although I guess most people do feel that way!