Speaking oneself into existence

Common sense, everyday experience, or even the simplest reflection on our daily interactions tells us how important it is for us, for our students and for our colleagues to be able to express ourselves clearly, with power, authority and sincerity when we speak. We don't need threshold learning outcomes or the published standards of our profession to highlight the centrality of the spoken word in our professional, community and personal lives. Yet how well do we understand, let alone achieve, this goal of speaking well? And how are we helping our students to develop this ability which is so critical to their learning and future practice?