Public Speaking for Absolute Beginners: Learn to Address an Audience with Confidence

by Sally Jenkins, Andrew Bulman

We all need to master and practise public speaking.

The ability to speak in front of an audience is life-enhancing. It creates confidence at work, play and in relationships.
This book will give you that confidence and help you to speak on special occasions, in the workplace and when you are unexpectedly asked ‘to say a few words’.
Learn to craft an attention grabbing speech, banish self-consciousness, use gestures, inject humour and finish speaking with a persuasive call to action.

Sally Jenkins is an author and speaker. In 2018 she reached the national finals of the Association of Speakers’ Clubs Speech Competition.

Public Speaking for Absolute Beginners covers the following

Why Learn to Speak in Public? The benefits are many
Banish the Demons Get rid of your negative thoughts
Limbering Up Prepare your voice to be heard
Speech Content and Construction Understand how to construct a speech
Brilliant Beginnings Open your speech with a bang
Magnificent Middles Make the body of your speech memorable
Exciting Endings Go out on a high
Gripping Gestures Let your hands do the talking
Audience Rapport Make friends with the audience
Perfect Pauses Silence is golden
Avoiding Monotony Variety in a speech is essential
Memorising versus Using Notes Learn to use bullet points
Reading Aloud This is not an easy option!
To Joke or not to Joke Appropriate use of humour
Impromptu Speaking Speaking off the cuff
PowerPoint Use it wisely
Speaking Engagements Get paid for speaking
The Vote of Thanks Say ‘thank you’ concisely
Panel Events The popular format for conferences
1 Minute Networking Introduction Essential for small businesses
Wedding Speeches Don’t let fear spoil the big day
Parties And Celebrations Toast the guest of honour
The Eulogy A difficult speech at an emotional time
When it Goes Wrong Be prepared!
Resources Where to find further help

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2019

About the author

Sally Jenkins is an American sports columnist and feature writer for The Washington Post, and author. She was previously a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. She has won the AP Sports Columnist of the Year Award five times, received the National Press Foundation 2017 chairman citation, and was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize. She is the author of a dozen books. Jenkins is noted for her writing on Pat Summitt, Joe Paterno, Lance Armstrong, and the United States Center for SafeSport.