The truth about the number 1 fear

Can it really be true that public speaking is the number 1 fear of ordinary people like you and me? Presentation coaches often say so. I should know because among other things I’m a presentation coach. But the evidence for the claim is underwhelming. Years ago Jerry Seinfeld used to open his comedy act with this story. “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does this seem right? That means to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

Of course Jerry’s right this doesn’t seem right. The facts are “most studies” haven’t found this. One study did.  The much quoted or referenced 1971 Bruskin Report, conducted by the U.S. marketing research firm R. H. Bruskin Associates for the [American] Travel Research Association. The good folks at Travel Research wanted help dealing with what they thought was a big marketing problem for the travel industry: Americans fear of flying. Bruskin was delighted to be able to help them out with their survey which, remarkably, showed ordinary Americans were much more afraid of public speaking, heights, insects, financial problems, deep water, sickness, and even death than they were of flying. [Which proves, to carry on with Jerry's logic that if your swimming in deep water and get a cramp you'd much rather drown than ask the crowd on the beach for help.] Since then surveys have been conducted from time to time that report what everyone already knows that large numbers of otherwise ordinary people are to some extent apprehensive, hesitant, shy or nervous about, fearful or afraid, call it what you will, of public speaking. If this research proves anything it is that nervousness about public speaking - to use one simple label for a complex collection of feelings and energies – is a normal part of what it means to be human. It is not our number 1 fear; and fear is the wrong word for most people; it is our most common shared experience. And I have come to believe it is an extremely useful thing. I don’t think any great presentation happens unless the presenter feels some nervousness before they go on. Too much can hurt a presenter but so can too little. The key is to master your nervousness not eliminate it.

Here, for your consideration, are the musings of an expert on the subject of fear:

Tags: Fear of public speaking, Presentation skills