Almost all of your speeches will fall into one of four categories. Most of this guide is devoted to the following types of presentations:

Presentations - You are scheduled to present a topic - project idea, analysis, whatever - to an audience. Probably what most people think of when the topic of public speaking is raised, unless political speeches come first. Presentations are probably second, on second thought.

Briefings - A presentation to colleagues and senior managers on a subject of importance to the organization.

Moderated Discussions - A debate or a discussion on a certain subject. The moderator needs to exercise tact, assertiveness, and some of these public speaking skills to manage the debate or discussion.

You may be asked to participate in a debate or panel discussion. This is probably much more likely for the average person, and the skills of a good public speaker will be useful in different ways in each case.

Elevator Speeches - How do you tell people what you do or what your company does, in a compelling way? This sort of speech is a vital selling tool in some job hunting scenarios, and in sales and marketing obviously.