Public Speaking, or talking in front of others, consistently counts as one of the foremost fears of individuals. Indeed, many people place public speaking ahead of death itself in their relative ranking of fears. It is no wonder, then, that a significant number of people tend to avoid situations where they are expected to speak, communicate, or perform in front of others. An even greater number of people, though not avoiding public speaking situations, nevertheless experience a degree of anxiety and stress which prevents them from communicating as effectively as they would have liked. Students, for example, may struggle through, or seek to avoid altogether, a required public speaking course; job candidates consumed with anxiety may sell themselves short or project an inferior image of themselves during an interview in front of potential employers; individuals may choose a job or career of limited potential; business professionals or workers may be passed up for, or even refuse outright, a promotion because of their fears surrounding speaking in front of others. Clearly, speech anxiety poses a real problem in many people's lives.