The tempo of storytelling should usually be faster than the normal speed of conversational delivery. Listeners like to feel the story is progressing. Action must take place. You can emphasize this feeling of progress by telling the story briskly.

My first contact with the talk of the world outside my home was with the boys in a rural school. It was not pleasant. All the boys were too bashful to talk with the girls. And even among the boys, the younger and possibly also the nicer boys were usually too bashful to participate in the general talk sessions.

If we are well-informed, then the goal in conversation is to select subjects in which all those taking part have an interest. When two people meet, the overlapping of their experiences produces subjects for conversation. Mutual experiences develop interest.

The very thought of making an oral presentation is enough to make many people - old as well as young -- want to stay in bed on the day of the presentation.

If you are interested in public speaking then you are ahead of many people.

Do you have a pending public speaking engagement? Is stage fright making you crazy over it? Here are some tips to help you get through it.