INTRODUCTION:

What is public speaking?

Public speaking as it’s name implies, is a way of making your idea public of sharing them with
other people and of influencing other people.
Public speaking has been a vital means of communication throughout history, allowing
individuals to share ideas and influence others. Notable figures like Martin Luther King Jr.,
Ronald Reagan, and Nelson Mandela, have effectively used public speaking to spread their
messages. This skill is not limited to leaders; it is valuable in everyday life and various
professions, a student

THE POWER OF PUBLIC SPEAKING:

Despite the rise of the Internet and new technologies, face-to-face communication, remains
irreplaceable. Public speaking is crucial for success in both professional and community life,
enabling individuals to express ideas, influence others, and make a meaningful impact on
societal issues. Employers highly value communication skills, often more than technical
knowledge, and college graduates are increasingly required to give presentations during job
interviews. Public speaking empowers people to make a difference in areas they care about.

THE TRADITION OF PUBLIC SPEAKING:

Public speaking has been a vital skill across cultures for thousands of years. The earliest known
handbook on effective speech dates back 4,500 years to Egypt. Eloquence was valued in ancient
India, Africa, China, and pre-European Americas. In classical Greece and Rome, public speaking
was central to education and civic life, with Aristotle’s “Rhetoric remaining influential today.
Notable figures like Cicero, Quintilian, St. Augustine, Christine de Pizan, Francis Bacon, and
Kenneth Burke have contributed to the study of rhetoric. Modern communication research
continues to refine our understanding of effective speech. Mastering these principles enhances
both speaking and listening skills.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PUBLIC SPEAKING AND CONVERSATION:

How much time do you spend each day talking to other people? While talking to people, you
may have already employed a wide range of skills when talking to people.
Public speaking and conversation share several key skills:
 1. Organising your thoughts logically: Both require organizing thoughts logically to
convey a clear message. For example, giving someone a step-by-step direction to your
house.

2. Tailoring your message to your audience: Adapting the message based on the
audience’s knowledge and understanding. For instance, explaining how pearls form
differently to a roommate and a young niece.

3. Teling a story for maximum impact: Building up a story to maximize its effect, rather
than starting with the punchline. For instance, funny incident at last week’s football
game.

4. Adapting to listener Feedback: Being aware of and responding to the listener’s verbal
and non-verbal cues (facial and physical reactions) to ensure understanding and
engagement. For instance, explaining an interesting point that came up in biology class,
These skills, used daily in conversations, are essential for effective public speaking.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUBLIC SPEAKING AND CONVERSATION

1. Public speaking is more highly structured: It imposes strict time limits and in most
cases does not allow interruptions (either from questions or commentary). It requires
detailed planning and preparation to anticipate and address potential audience questions.

2. It requires more formal Language: Public speaking demands more formal language.
Slang, jargon, and poor grammar are avoided to maintain a polished and elevated tone.
Listeners usually react negatively to offenders.

3. It requires a different method of delivery: We talk quietly, adopt casual posture, use
vocalised pauses (“uh”, “er” “um”) and interject phrases such as “like” and “you know”
when conversing informally. Public speakers adjust their voices for clarity, adopt a more
erect posture, and avoid casual mannerisms and verbal habits like “uh,””er,” and “um.”

With practice, you can master these differences and enhance your conversational skills for
effective public speaking.
DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE: YOUR SPEECH CLASS:
Stage fright is a common concern for students in speech classes. Many people who are
comfortable in everyday conversations become anxious about public speaking. Surveys show
that public speaking is one of the top fears, even more than dying.

Feeling nervous before giving a speech is common and even experienced by some of history’s
greatest speakers like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. This nervousness, often seen as
stage fright, is a natural response to stress, causing physical reactions like a racing heart and
shaking hands due to adrenaline. Many successful individuals, including athletes and actors,
have learned to harness this nervous energy to enhance their performance. The key is to control
and use this nervousness to your advantage rather than letting it hinder you.

DEALING WITH NERVOUSNESS:

Instead of trying to eliminate stage fright, transform it into “positive nervousness” an enthusiastic
and lively feeling that energizes you. Think of it as “stage excitement” or “stage enthusiasm,
similar to how athletes and musicians get ready for a performance. This mindset helps you focus
and use nervous energy positively.
Here are six time tested ways you can turn your nervousness from a negative force into a positive
one:

1. Acquire speaking experience:

Enrolling in a public speaking course helps you overcome stage fright by gaining experience and
feedback in a supportive environment. As you practice, your fear of the unknown diminishes,
and your confidence grows, making public speaking less intimidating.
2. Prepare, prepare, prepare:
To gain confidence in public speaking, choose topics you care about and prepare thoroughly.
Jesse, a nervous student, succeeded by speaking passionately about Habitat for Humanity, a
cause he deeply believed in. His enthusiasm and preparation helped him overcome nervousness
and engage his audience. Proper preparation, often requiring one to two hours per minute of
speaking time, can significantly reduce stage fright.
3. Think positively:
Positive thinking is crucial for confidence in public speaking. Transform negative thoughts into
positive ones to reduce stage fright. For each negative thought, counter with at least five positive
ones. This helps manage nerves and focus on communicating effectively.
4. Use the power of visualisation:
Visualization, linked to positive thinking, is used by athletes, musicians, actors, and speakers to
enhance performance. By vividly imagining success and overcoming challenges, individuals can
boost their confidence and control nerves. This mental rehearsal, combined with thorough
preparation, helps in delivering successful presentations.
5. Know that most nervousness is not visible:
Most nervousness isn’t visible to the audience. While you may feel extremely tense, your
listeners usually can’t see it. Knowing this can boost your confidence, as you often appear calmer
than you feel.
6. Don’t expect perfection:
The text “Don’t Expect Perfection” emphasizes that there is no such thing as a perfect speech.
Every speaker makes minor mistakes, but these are usually unnoticed by the audience because
they don’t know what was planned. The key is to continue confidently even if something goes
wrong.
Many people fear making mistakes because they see speechmaking as a performance judged on
perfection. However, audiences are more interested in clear and direct communication rather than
flawless delivery. Small errors can even make a speaker seem more relatable.

The following are the ways to manage nervousness:

1. Be well-rested and in good physical and mental condition.
2. Use physical actions like tightening and relaxing muscles to reduce tension.
3. Take deep breaths to calm nerves.
4. Focus on delivering a strong introduction to ease into the speech.
5. Make eye contact to connect with the audience.
6. Concentrate on communicating rather than worrying about mistakes.
7. Use visual aids to engage the audience and reduce self-consciousness.
Overall, the text encourages thorough preparation and a focus on communication over perfection.
Which can help build confidence and make the speech experience more enjoyable.