SPEAKING IN PUBLIC 

Even if you're not on a microphone in front of a crowd, knowing how to communicate well is a valuable skill to have.  It is important to speak slowly and clearly and to avoid slang.   How well do you make your point known? 

7 Tips on speaking in public:

1. Know your material.   Speak on something that interests you or that you're knowledgeable in.  You'll have plenty to say, so you're less likely to forget what to say.  Use personal stories when appropriate.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud and revise as necessary.
3. Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
4. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. If there is an audience, visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
5. Don’t apologize for any nervousness – your audience probably never noticed it.
6. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
7. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.

Source:  www.toastmasters.org