If just the thought of public speaking makes you queasy, you are not alone. Research shows that 73 percent of the population suffers from public speaking anxiety. The medical term for speaking anxiety is called “Glossophobia.” 10 percent of the population has a fear of public speaking and will go to great lengths to avoid it. To quote Jerry Seinfeld, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right?
This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” However, overcoming the fear can be beneficial to your career. Not only do people who conquer their public speaking fears earn higher incomes, but a survey of 1,000 employers also found that communication skills top the list of abilities they look for when they’re hiring!