Public speaking is communicating to a group in a structured way to inform, influence, or entertain the audience. Some tips for effective public speaking include learning from experienced speakers, knowing your material inside and out, practicing regularly, staying calm, maintaining an appropriate pace, making eye contact, being concise, understanding your audience, finding a friendly face in the crowd, avoiding self-praise or bragging, and redefining nerves as adrenaline through rehearsal and audience focus rather than self-focus.