THE BASIC QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE SPEAKING
As a way of concluding this section on delivery, let us consider three
qualities that are found in successful speaking performances:
 CONFIDENCE
 CONTACT
 IMPACT

Confidence in Performance
All good speakers appear confident-of their subject and of their
ability to perform. But we all feel nervous at times-especially
when we are not experienced in addressing groups or when we are
dealing with a new topic or meeting a new group.
There are two points to remember:
 everyone experiences such nervousness;
 0 you often look better to your audience than you feel!
In fact, some degree of nervousness or tension can be beneficial. The
heightened glandular activity-nervous excitement-gives you
increased energy. And this can be a good thing if you harness that
energy. The result can be more dynamism in the voice, more
purposeful action. And this comes across as enthusiasm for your
subject and interest in your audience.
The negative effects of uncontrolled nervousness are the kinds of
distracting mannerisms we have discussed above-the shuffling of
feet or the wringing of hands. Or even a withdrawal into your notes
and a loss of contact.
Of course the more you practise speaking the less nervous you will be.
Similarly, the more you know your subject, the more interest you will
have in it, the more you will "lose" yourself in your enthusiasm for it,
and the greater the animation in talking about it.

Contact
Remember to look squarely at your audience-not at your notes all
the time or at your polished shoes. Try to see the members of your
audience as individuals-establish eye contact with them.
Perhaps it is a state of mind. It happens naturally when you have
something you want to say; something you want other people to
understand and act on.