INTRODUCTION
   • This is communication through speech or by the use of word of 
    mouth. 
   • The ability to communicate ideas and plans effectively in front of an 
    audience is one of the most important career skills.
             WHY IMPORTANT
    • It fosters good relationships.
    • To gain employment, you must be able to speak persuasively about your 
    best selling points.
    • A person’s professional reputation as well as promotions is positively 
    related to his her effectiveness in making oral presentations.
    • You also need interpersonal communication skills at the workplace – during 
    meetings, group discussions, telephone transactions.
    • It helps to effectively pass on information in formal speech presentations.
    • It helps in advertising the company and its products and effectively gives 
    the organization a good corporate image.
     COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION
   • It is an individual’s fear or anxiety associated with either a real or an 
    anticipated communication event with another person or persons.
   • It is also called stage fright, speech fright or speech anxiety. It includes 
    the fear of talking on the phone, face-to-face conversations, the fear 
    of talking to authority figures or high status individuals, the fear of 
    speaking in a small group and the fear of speaking to an audience.
   • Some fear is good for you. It is the catalyst for the release of adrenalin 
    which helps you to perform.
   • If you have acute CA then you need to receive help or you will spend a 
    lifetime handicapped by your fear.
                HCA
   • A report says Americans fear speaking before a group more than they 
    fear flying, snakes, deep water, height or even death. 
   • A comedian says that due to this fear, more people at a funeral would 
    like to be the one in the casket than the one delivering the eulogy.
                SIGNS
   • The rate of your speech changes. You speak either too fast or too 
    slowly. 
   • You are conscious of sweaty palms, shaking hands and knees and a 
    dry mouth. 
   • There is the urge to swallow, stammering sets in, vocalized pauses 
    with um, err, you know, well, a fumbling for words. 
   • The body gets rigid. 
   • You tend to avoid eye contact with the audience.