Public Speaking

Does the thought of giving a speech in public make you nervous? If so, you have lots of company in the world. Experts say that 75% of all people dislike public speaking, and 40% experience a level of anxiety that impairs their performance. Surveys even say that the number one fear in the world is public speaking. The truth is — some of us fear making a public speech more than we fear death!

The most recommended cure for the fear of public speaking is to go out and do it anyway. Start small and prepare well. First, practice your speech with a few friends or family members. As you feel more comfortable, gradually begin to speak to larger groups of people you don’t know as well. The more times you speak, the easier it will get.

But the good news is, for this course, you probably aren’t going to be speaking to a whole room full of people (unless your teacher or advisor requires you to do your road show presentation for your class). Your goal at the end of this lesson will be to present your road show to at least two businesspeople, such as a bank loan officer or a successful business owner in your community. Activity 21 will provide instructions and forms for evaluating your presentation.