Speaking of the Devil

Why do smart， articulate， and self-confident people often become terrified in front of a group？ How could death rank just seventh in a national survey of the top ten experiences Americans dread most，and public speaking first？ Think about it： We'd rather kick the bucket than address an audience！

　　It starts in elementary school when a teacher singles us out to "speak up" Remember the panic of producing the wrong answer？ Our palms sweated， we might have been short of breath， and filled with trembling knees， nausea， a stomachache， and a rapid heartbeat. We felt awkward and dumb.

　　As adults， we' re still afraid we' II make fools of ourselves. We worry that listeners will think we are lightweights.And we should worry.

　　Public speaking isn't just a sweet skill to have. Being a first-rate orator can lead to job promotions and personal advancement， while being a lousy one is a disadvantage.

　　One way to feel more comfortable on the stage is by checking out the room in advance， observing the set-up， and testing any equipment you' II be using.

　　Some speaking specialists suggest opening with a provocative question， or a recent news event that relates to your topic. Other coaches think adding a little tasteful humor can liven up the talk if the subject is suitable.

　　As important as the words is the delivery. A study of audience reaction to speeches revealed that listeners remember just 7 percent of what is said， 38% of how it is said，and 55% of the speaker's body language.

　　And speaking of anxiety， some people like to get up in front of a group， but most don't. As Mark Twain once said."There are two kinds of speakers： those that are nervous and those that are liars."