| Wikipedia defines public speaking as 'speaking to a | | | | prepared my topic well (though can't remember the |
| group of people in a structured, deliberate manner'. | | | | topic now) and was fully confident about my ability |
| Providing information to people is the main aim of public | | | | although I had never spoken in front of more than 2-3 |
| speaking. This information could be only for | | | | people till then. I was sure that I was going to be |
| understanding an issue or it could be for taking an | | | | adjudged the best speaker, but all hell broke loose as |
| action. It is mainly a form of one-way communication. It | | | | soon as I took to the stage. When I saw that there |
| primarily depends on the ability of the speaker whether | | | | were so many children staring at me, I was simply |
| he can only inform the listener or change and affect | | | | dumbfounded. I literally started shaking and forgot |
| the views of the listener as well. Public speaking has | | | | everything which I had prepared so painstakingly. |
| immense power. A balanced and well delivered | | | | Children started jeering at me by gestures, especially |
| speech can motivate people in favor of something | | | | the children from my own class. A slight murmur had |
| whereas a poor and shoddy delivery could damage a | | | | begun. It took me almost 2-3 minutes of my allotted |
| solid view point or a product. An ill-presented speech | | | | time before I could regain some sort of composure |
| can bore the audience into a daze, somewhere | | | | and somehow deliver what I had intended to say in the |
| between sleepiness and death and thus defeating the | | | | first place. The term for what I underwent that day 24 |
| very purpose of public speaking, whereas a | | | | years ago is stage fright or glossophobia. And this is a |
| well-researched and properly presented speech can | | | | fear which I am not the only one to have come |
| turn even a boring subject into an interesting one. For | | | | across. The majority of the people encounter it at |
| the speaker to achieve this, he must go about the | | | | some point of life.The ability to be a successful public |
| presentation in a logical and methodical manner. Slowly | | | | speaker lies in exposure. Only by sufficient practice |
| building up the case is a good approach. Bombarding | | | | can one deal with the fear of public speaking. As the |
| the audience with too any statistics can simply kill the | | | | famous saying 'genius is one percent brain and ninety |
| spirit. Such is the power of public speaking that great | | | | nine percent hard work' clearly demonstrates, it can be |
| leaders have been able to influence and motivate | | | | overcome by repeated exposure and practice in front |
| hundreds and thousands of people by this virtue | | | | of an audience. Another clue to successful public |
| alone.Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, | | | | speaking is knowledge. Any audience can be |
| Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King and Adolf Hitler | | | | effectively dealt with if sufficient knowledge about the |
| were some of the greatest orators of all times (not | | | | subject at hand exists. Without a complete |
| everybody guided the people in the right direction, | | | | understanding of the subject, even a slight flaw could |
| though). These great orators motivated thousands of | | | | lead to catastrophic results. The fear of public |
| people to follow them, simply by virtue of their | | | | speaking can also be dealt with by undergoing |
| oratorical skills. There are many others. This amply | | | | professional speaking courses, where the issue is |
| demonstrates the power of public speaking.In spite of | | | | approached in a scientific manner by assigning various |
| its importance, this is not a virtue to be found easily. | | | | types of exercises. There the students learn by |
| People who are confident and poised otherwise lose | | | | observation and practice. They are helped in |
| their calm as soon as they find themselves in front of | | | | overcoming the fear by providing them with |
| a large audience. All hell breaks loose in front of a | | | | constructive suggestions and public speaking |
| gathering and the carefully preserved calm and poise | | | | exercises. Students can also improve by learning to |
| goes down the drain. Such is the fear of public | | | | speak in front of friends and acquaintances where |
| speaking that heart beats increase, perspiration starts, | | | | they can be sure that they won't laughed at if they |
| legs go weak and even stammering takes place. | | | | fumble and make mistakes. The fear can also be |
| People simply become dumbfounded, especially if the | | | | overcome by speaking in front of the mirror.Always |
| audience is large and/or an important one.I first tasted | | | | remember that by knowledge, practice and |
| this fear when I was around 13 years old in standard | | | | experience, you can overcome your fear of public |
| VIII. I was participating in a debate where I was to | | | | speaking and deliver your speech in front of any |
| speak in front of 400-500 students of my school. I had | | | | audience in the world. |