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SPEAKING EFFECTIVELY

The thought of speaking in front of an audience terrifies most people. Jerry Seinfeld once quipped that “to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”1 Indeed, a Gallup poll found that 40 percent of Americans claim a fear of public speaking—second only to a fear of snakes.2

But public speaking is an important skill for most professionals. They often need to make oral presentations to groups within their own organization and sometimes are asked to deliver speeches to public audiences. Because most professionals have not been trained in this area, they make predictable mistakes. Fortunately, you can become an effective public speaker with a little guidance and ...

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