Make a presentation? Get me out of here!

Browsing through the colour suplement that came with my weekend paper, I came across one of those 'top 10 worst fears' that they print occaisionally. There at number one was:

Speaking in public

Spiders were at number two and death was at number seven! Am I really to conclude that most people would rather die than make a presentation? (You don't have to answer that)

So this set me thinking. I train and present regularly and it doesn't bother me. Is this because I am some lucky soul with certain skills and attributes unavailable to other folk? Don't think so. I think it is because that - unlike many - I was given proper, well constructed training in these areas as I shinned up the greasy pole.

I spoke to a few folk who would happily sell a kidney rather than present and suggested I put them together a training workshop on the subject. No you pillock, they replied, do you not realise that because we're so fearful of presenting the last thing we want to do is go on a course where you have to give a presentation!

My challenge it seems then is to help people build their presenting ability without having to actually present. I have some ideas of how I could go about this, but would welcome suggestions and comments too. I'll also give regular updates on my progress here.