As science has shown that public speaking is an acquired skill that can be taught rather than a skill that is inherently present at birth, tremendous results have been garnered through careful training.

Even those whose natural tendencies are to steer clear of the spotlight, or those who have impediments that inhibit them from getting up and speaking in front of a crowd, can learn through training in public speaking to be proficient and effective speakers.

The number one factor standing between most individuals and success in public speaking is fear. Whether they are naturally shy among their peers or they are normally fearless, the moment they get up in front of a crowd they freeze. The feeling of hundreds of sets of eyes on them is enough to lodge their tongue in the back of their throat, leaving them literally speechless as the people in front of them sit and wait for them to do precisely that.

The good news is that through careful training in public speaking these men and women can learn to move beyond their fear and present their ideas and arguments in a clear, concise manner whether they are addressing an audience of one or one hundred. Astonishingly to many people, some of the greatest stars in the world get stage fright. Barbara Streisand refused to do any more live performances after forgetting the words to a song early in her career.

Carly Simon has poked herself with safety pins before going on-stage to get her mind off of her fear of performing in front of a crowd. In 1968 Rod Stewart performed an entire song from behind a set of speakers during his U.S. debut in New York. These celebrities learned through training and practice how to move beyond their fears, and how to conquer them rather than allowing themselves to be conquered.

Of course, ordinary stage fright doesn’t quite cover it for those suffering from speech disabilities. Their fear of public speaking is amplified by their fear of being ridiculed for their impediment. Whether it’s a lisp, a stutter or a stammer, most speech disabilities are severely amplified by anxiety. Combine that tendency with a public speaking performance and what you have is an instant recipe for disaster.

Modern therapies have helped hundreds of thousands of people make leaps and bounds when it comes to overcoming their disabilities. Specialized speech therapists can work with individuals suffering from fluency disorders to help them speak smoothly and clearly and enunciate their words for easier understanding. Those with physical disfigurements leading to their impairments can see a physician and take part in surgical therapies that will give them a chance to regain much of the quality of life that they have lost.

Anyone needing a testimony to the effectiveness of proper training for public speaking need look no farther than British film star Alan Rickman. The Broadway star who debuted in Hollywood as sinister villain Hans Gruber opposite Bruce Willis in the shoot-em-up film Die Hard suffered from a speech disability as a child that caused him to speak in a muffled, unclear voice. If training in public speaking could turn Alan Rickman into the smooth toned gangster America loved to hate, it can work miracles for others suffering from speech disabilities as well.

My Name Is Christopher Carlin And I Want To Give You Twenty Free Public Speaking Tips