While some people absolutely thrive on the buzz of public speaking, many others find it an absolute nightmare. If you're due to make a speech or give an important presentation, then this book will prove extremely useful.
The Everything Public Speaking Book - Overview
Author of The Everything Public Speaking Book, Scott Smith, has delivered more than 3,000 speeches, business presentations and media interview. This extremely wide range of personal experience comes across throughout the book, offering many practical tools to help hold the audience's attention and develop key skills. Divided into fourteen easy-to-follow chapters, Smith begins with listing top ten reasons why you want to speak better in public, reminding you of the many benefits of learning how to improve on your public speaking.
Key issues covered in The Everything Public Speaking Book, include the following:
- overcoming fear
- psychology of fear
- informative speech
- eloquent sources
- refining touches
- humour
- managing the audience
- debate frameworks
- business presentations, virtual meetings
- media interviews
- getting paid to speak – becoming a pro
- visual/audio aids
Find Sample Speeches for Different Occasions
At the back of the book, there are some excellent sample speeches in Appendix C, which offer the reader some very helpful ideas. Whether you are due to make a new business pitch, give a wedding toast or make a press conference announcement, this section is certainly well worth reading. Further themes also covered in the sample speeches section, include as follows:
- boosting morale
- presenting/receiving an award
- honouring a retiring employee
- dedicating a new facility
- welcoming a new employee
- paying tribute to an honouree
- introducing a guest speaker
- opening a business conference
Visual and Audio Aids for Public Speaking
A particularly useful chapter, entitled "Visual and Audio Aids," offers those preparing for public speaking a whole range of tips and tools on making the most of these aids. This chapter will make it much simpler to ascertain which visual and audio aids are likely to be effective in different settings. Key visual and audio aids explored in the book, include the following:
- handouts
- blackboards, whiteboards, flip charts
- overheads
- slides
- powerpoint
- soundtracks
As highlighted above, regardless of how much the thought of having to give a work presentation, wedding speech or interview fills you with fear and anxiety, The Everything Public Speaking Book is likely to offer valuable tools to make public speaking less stressfull. Rather than worrying and becoming overly anxious and stressed out, this highly practical resource will help you learn how to overcome fear of speaking in public, once and for all.
Smith, S. The Everything Public Speaking Book. Avon: Adams Media, 2008.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59869-622-6
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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