Why do we fear public speaking? | Dave Guin | TEDxCPP

Ever wonder what fighting a bear and public speaking have in common? Professor Guin explains the hunter-gatherer perspective behind why humans fear public speaking more than dying.

Professor Guin has a BA in Communication Theory and Process - Interpersonal and Intercultural communication, and a MA in Human Communication - Performance Studies and Communication in the Classroom. Guin has been doing public speaking for almost his entire adult life. He spent 13 years in business before coming back to school to get his degrees. Guin has been a professor of human communication for over twenty years. He describes himself as having “a (self described) mental disorder, with a neurotic need to be omniscient.” This has led him to being a voracious reader, with particular interests in communication, the human brain, and psychology.

[VectrexLife]

My left ear really enjoyed this video.

[TheFreshspidey]

Some serious audio issues. Please reupload with clear audio if possible. Also with my headphones I noticed the audio plays on one ear.

[doniajjm]

a master in telling stories, i love his voice

[corndog]

I thought that he was cursing alot lol it was just bad audio

[mrskncts]

This is not a talk, this is performance at its best! I feel deep admiration. So glad YouTube led me here.

[BLAZINHOT]

Fighting a bear - you
Public speaking - fear
= Fear to the dark = you overcoming the fear to the dark = self confidence

[cseeger]

For me public speaking is just acting. When put in that frame, it's far easier to do as it's not me speaking, but a character, another persona. Same goes for doing Karaoke, a job interview, telling a story, robbing banks, ya know...doing stuff in public.

[jdean]

What an OUTSTANDING presentation and incredible human being…this guy is really cool! I’m a big fan!!! This is gent knows who he is . He’s not one bit self-conscious about anything. He’s the real deal!
Nicely Done ✅

[jandejohn]

Secret = Just do it

This talk annoyed me because he could have shortened this talk to like 5 minutes.

[epicshawn]

Why we fear public speaking sometimes: *audio/microphone problems*

[Sevenxsnroses]

Great stuff well put together and entertaining. Ad an audio engineer myself yes, the audio was a distraction. But when you're doing live audio for a living you deal with it stuff happens. I still got a lot out of this TED Talk. Thank you

[grahamt]

Basically just DO IT or forever be held back from achieving your full potential.

[BLAZINHOT]

Dave guin, your totally right, in fact I hope every single that read this comment might agree it. But what you said about the hunters sample just fit to the fear of public speaking as self-confidence

[hlchopra]

An amazing, charismatic, and actor par excellence. We rarely find such performance on social network. Thanks TED talks for such shows.

[RaferJeffersonIII]

I have to do it in my job. It will dominate my mind for 3 weeks before. It will crescendo in the week before. I can’t sleep properly. Usually on the day it’s terrible. Once up, I can do it provided I’ve massively over prepared. Yesterday, I was fine until the CEO walked into the room - he’s a great guy; not intimidating; but his badge made me stumble my words. It didn’t help having a senior employee who kept looking at me checking his watch and rolling his eyes. Now I feel like I’ve been hit by a train. I’ve had CBT and hypnosis. Others I see can just rock up and speak. I am so nervous my brain just can’t work. It’s a shame as my career would take off if I could do it. I usually have propropanol but I was out of it.
I feel like an imposter and I don’t belong there.
If only I was privately educated as I think it breeds a sense of self worth and trains you to do this. My education set me up to be a compliant worker.

[naomibrock]

Geez I've never seen a drier audience. Guy had genuinely funny moments and it's just dead silence.

[NewSchoolCrap]

LOL this guys fucking hilarious wtf is wrong with that audience..

[curiousgeorge]

1:36 is it just me or is his voice really trembling at that point? 
He says we are all afraid of public speaking. Seems he hasn't overcome the fear entirely.
Nonetheless he's a very good public speaker. Way better than I am.

[Arcticninja]

take care of yourselves people. Eat healthy clean we all wana be with you longer dont let us miss you

[katrhodes]

I really enjoyed the presentation and the humor that was added to capture the attention of the audience. speaking in public can be hard but he made it look easy. Also the examples were true and on spot. Good Job.