Public speaking is a valuable skill in today’s world, and not just for politicians. Corporate employees will find it handy in big meetings, or even in smaller (but not necessarily any less pivotal) negotiation sessions. Teachers with debate training may also have an edge over their colleagues, since classroom teaching is, in essence, a type of public speaking. Of course, you do not have to be an academic or white-collar worker in order to get some use out of public speaking, since it can help almost anyone become more confident in normal day-to-day social interaction.

If you are interested in learning public speaking, you do not have to worry about joining an über-intellectual debating team or shelling out tons of money for "personality development" classes. You can pick several of the relevant skills up on your own. Read famous speeches, or watch videos of them online. Try writing speeches, and participating more in community meetings.

The key is to realize that public speaking is a part of everyday life, so a surprising number of "everyday" activities can help you become a better speaking. One of the most important skills is, in fact, so commonplace that you barely think about it. What could it be?

That's right, breathing. Proper breathing helps you project and control your voice, to give it greater authority and expressiveness. You can emphasize a certain set of ideas by increasing your vocal volume, or by releasing a smooth, poetic torrent of words in a single breath. Breathing exercises can also help you to speak from your diaphragm instead of your throat, which results in a deeper, fuller tone that signals, "Take me seriously."

Some public speakers need breathing exercises more than others do. There is a special (and rather controversial) type of public speaker known as a filibuster. A filibuster speaks on hours and hours on end. Very long filibuster speeches have gone on for ten hours or more. The speech often turns incoherent, irrelevant, and even downright nonsensical. Politicians usually turn to filibuster tactics in a last-ditch attempt to disrupt proceedings, or derail the passing of bills they do not like. Many people believe that filibusters should not be allowed to wield this kind of influence, but if you want to give filibuster strategies a try, a strong pair of lungs is not only useful but necessary.