The art of public speaking is not a gift from heaven, but rather an accomplishment achieved through practice and hard work. You too can achieve this level of competence, if not mastery, by adopting the ideas and suggestions offered in Speaking with Style. This is a complete and comprehensive guide on the art of public speaking, which offers detailed and practical advice on mastering the skill to help readers becoming an effective, confident, and powerful speaker. Comprising 65 chapters divided into six sections, the book covers all important aspects of speech making ranging from preparation, presentation, rhetorical devices, self-analysis, to dealing with regulators and law courts. Each chapter is self-contained and complete in itself covering a technique that, once mastered, will enhance your power as a speaker. The author distils his extensive experience of forty years as a public speaker to present valuable insights and tips on becoming an accomplished speaker and empathetic communicator. His recommendations are easy, realistic, and are often accompanied by a checklist of instructions and examples from famous speakers down the ages. Since he is a chartered accountant, the students of accountancy and accountants in the profession and industry will find this book more interesting and relevant to them. Besides, it will be of immense value to the students and professionals in various other fields. TARGET AUDIENCE This is a must-read book for speakers, educators, trainers, entrepreneurs, executives, leaders and all those who aspire to improve their public speaking skills. Contents Foreword by Amarjit Chopra Preface Message by J.M. Seth Message by Sanjiv Sachar Message by Kaushal Kishore Acknowledgements About the Author Speaking Strategy PART I: PREPARATION 1. Audience Analysis 2. Structure 3. Openings and Closings 4. Breaks and Recaps 5. Gathering the Material 6. Backburner 7. Reserve Power 8. Prompt Cards 9. Practice 10. Recording 11. Exercises 12. Visualization 13. Visual Aid 14. PowerPoint Presentations 15. Stories 16. Specifics 17. A Variety of Techniques 18. Memorable Moments 19. Conference Halls 20. Quieting the Mind PART II: PRESENTATION 21. Speaking Style 22. Taking Possession of your Territory 23. Stance 24. Choreography 25. Smile 26. Eye Contact 27. Voice 28. Phrase 29. Pause 30. Gestures 31. Body Language 32. Personalization 33. Humour and Wit 34. Flexibility 35. Avoiding Criticism 36. Empathy and Harmony 37. Reaching out and Connecting 38. Total Control 39. In the Eye of the Storm PART III: WORDS AND RHETORICAL DEVICES 40. Words 41. Rhetorical Devices 42. Antithesis 43. Alliteration 44. Anaphora 45. Repetition 46. Rhetorical Question and Hypophora 47. Simile and Metaphor 48. Animal Similes and Metaphors 49. Asyndeton 50. Hyperbole and Litotes PART IV: SELF-ANALYSIS 51. Feedback 52. Communication Evaluation 53. Keeping a Diary 54. Example of Variety in a Speech 55. My Most Difficult Audience Analysis 56. My Most Difficult Speaking Assignment 57. Example of a Written Memorial Speech PART V: REGULATORY BODIES AND LAW COURTS 58. How to Face Regulatory Bodies and Law Courts PART VI: CONCLUSION 59. Yoga 60. Speech Impediment 61. Stage Fright 62. Lincoln, Churchill, and Hitler 63. Public Speaking for Students 65. How to Chair a Session 65. Magic List for Excellence in Public SpeakingAbout the AuthorAshok Mahindra has delivered a number of speeches to different audiences on diverse topics over the past four decades. He has been Co-Chairman, Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, India and Senior Partner, A.F. Ferguson & Co., India. Also, he held positions as Independent Director & Chairman of the Audit Committee of Nestlé India Ltd and as Treasurer Trustee and Vice-President of WWF-India. He is a Fellow member of the ICAI, ICAEW and CIOT, UK.