The Blarney Stone is a historical stone, or actually part of the Blarney Castle in Ireland where it was believed that kissing the stone can grant you the gift of the gab. It seems strange in this day and age, but who are we to question tradition?

There is so much to know about communication that anyone, even I, could ever realize. You can  watch talk shows; listen to radio programs; go to clubs dedicated to public speaking; listen and take part in ordinary conversations; and you will notice how certain rules still apply when it comes to interaction through words. It may sound tedious, I know, but even though it's your mouth that's doing the work, your brain works twice as hard to churn out a lot of things you know. So what better way to start learning to be an effective communicator than to know the person closest to you: yourself.

The focus here is mainly on speaking to small groups or larger audiences.  Some tips and guidelines on how to empower your communication so that you can enjoy communicating no matter how many people are listening.

1. What you know.
Education is all about learning the basics, but to be an effective speaker is to practice what you've learned. Being a teacher and going through the training has certainly made my life easier in this, before my training I would avoid getting up to speak to anyone, including the family when more than two people were around, I was way too shy.

2. Listening.
It's just as important as asking questions. Sometimes listening to the sound of our own voice can teach us to be a little bit confident with ourselves and to say the things we believe in with conviction. Listening to what others have to say is very important.  Apart from the opportunity to learn what is good or bad when speaking you can gather a lot of information if you really listen.

3. Humility
We all make mistakes, and sometimes we tend to slur our words, stutter, and probably mispronounce certain words even though we know what it means, but rarely use it only to impress listeners. So in a group, don't be afraid to ask if you're saying the right word properly and if they're unsure about it then make a joke out of it. I promise you it'll make everyone laugh and you can get away with it as well.

4. Eye Contact
There's a lot to say when it comes to directing your attention to your audience with an eye-catching gaze. It's important that you keep your focus when talking to a large group in a meeting or a gathering, you need eye contact but you also need to seem to be talking to everyone not just one person. This takes practice but is very effective, eye contact is good and keeps people focussed on what you are saying.

5. Humour
A little bit of humour can do wonders to lift any tension, or, even worse, boredom when making your speech. With humour you will get the attention of the majority of the crowd and they will feel that you are approachable, and as human as those who listen.

6. Be like the rest of them
Interaction is all about mingling with other people. It is also a way of gathering information and finding out where people are coming from, why they react in certain ways, what they believe in and more..

7. Me, Myself, and I
Admit it, there are times you sing to yourself in the shower. I know I do! Listening to the sound of your own voice while you practice your speech in front of a mirror can help correct the stress areas of your pitch. Even better, if you have time, record it and make sure it sounds sense and is effective.  It is also interesting to listen to the sound of your voice, does it sound interesting, would it captivate an audience, what do you need to do to ensure this happens.

8. With a smile
A smile says it all much like eye contact. There's no point on grimacing or frowning in a meeting or at a gathering, even if it is a wake. It is easier to express yourself and your emotions if you are smiling, it is easier to communicate with people if you are smiling and I do not mean put on a cheesy grin, it has to be a genuine smile.  A smile can make or break communication, by smiling you are inviting people to share in what you are saying and feel able to communicate in return.

9. A Role Model
There must be at least one or two people in your life you have listened to when they're at a public gathering or maybe at church. Listen to how they speak, make a mental note of how they emphasize their words so that they achieve the effect they want.  Think about how what they are saying effects how you feel.  It is all about capturing your audience and words alone do not suffice, only with you and your input can it be successful.

10. Preparation
Take time and care with your preparation, no matter who you are about to address, rather than just scribbling notes and often in a hurried panic. Some people like to write things down on index cards, while others have little reminders written down on paper or even the whole speech. At the end of the day it does not matter how you prepare, what you take with you, the object is to keep focussed, capture your audience and enjoy the whole process.

Hopefully, with these tips you can empower yourself and your skills of communication.  The more you do the more confident you will become.