A phobia is defined as a “persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.” There are thousands of different phobias the general public falls prey to—a fear of death, of snakes, of flying, of falling—but the #1 fear of people across the globe is one that many of us have to deal with on a daily basis: the fear of public speaking.

There are several different methods for overcoming the fear of public speaking, or stage fright, as it is commonly known. Check out Gary’s blog for some tips. There are also five manifestations of stage fright that you need to avoid …

1. The Deer in the Headlights.
Wide, doe-like Bambi eyes, trained in terror at the audience or spotlight. Unable to move or speak.

2. The Godfather.
Mumbling, rambling speech in the style of Marlon Brando’s iconic 1972 crime boss. Content is understood by no one but a select, secret, inner circle—co-authors, for example.

3. The Samurai.
Expressionless face and monosyllabic delivery. Appears to take Stan Sakai’s “A samurai should always be prepared for death: whether his own or someone else’s” to heart.

4. The Coffee Addict. Jittery, unfocused speech that runs about 180 km/h. Strategic pauses are treated with contempt; deep breaths or even any consistent breath patterns at all are generally avoided.

5. The Juvenile Delinquent. Slouched posture, hands in pockets, sullen demeanor, and eyes trained anywhere but the audience—usually at one’s own feet.

Avoiding these tragic public speaking pitfalls is one of the first steps on the road to a successful presentation delivery.