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Michael Zuiker wasn't always an expert communicator. In college, he skipped class or conveniently "forgot" his material so he could avoid giving a presentation in debate class.

Eventually Zuiker realized breaking free of his phobia was necessary in order to advance in his career as well as life. Job opportunities and promotions passed him by, and his productivity and interpersonal relationships suffered because of poor communications skills.

"I think I just got to a point in my life where I realized I missed so much," the Silver Spring resident explains.

So Zuiker checked out library books and videos on public speaking, took public speaking seminars and joined several Toastmasters International clubs. He practiced his speaking religiously, often videotaping himself so he could see his strengths and weaknesses.

After years of skills honing, Zuiker wrote the book "Shut Up! A Quiet Guide to Speaking," in which he explores how to communicate more by saying less.

"Communicating is not about standing behind a lectern and speaking before 5,000 people," he writes. "It is about being able to express your ideas in a clear and concise manner with passion."

Zuiker emphasizes the importance of waiting three seconds before responding to a question. All too often, he writes, people begin spitting out nonsense words before they have given themselves a chance to formulate a thoughtful and concise answer.

"You can start to implement the key to successful speaking and communicating today by shutting up right now," he writes. "Give it a try."

Zuiker recommends taking a deep breath and pausing before beginning a speech in order to gather your audience's full attention. Other tips include practicing to alleviate fears, using gestures and counting "ahs" and "ums" in practice speeches to help eliminate them.

Faced with the challenge of making a nerve-wracking topic appealing to read about, Zuiker used humor.

"I wanted to make it right off the bat a fun read – something entertaining," he says.

Scattered throughout are humorous photographs of Zuiker — plugging his ears, screaming wildly at the car radio, standing in front of the Capitol building beseeching politicians to shut up and holding his fist to the sky in frustration — that illustrate his frustration with the poor communication skills that abound in broadcasting, politics and everyday conversation.

Zuiker attributes his self-publishing the book to his cousin, who had published two other books written by family members.

"I don't have any grand illusions of selling a million copies," he says.

Zuiker's next writing project will be a book on how to make a small business survive. As the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, a store in Arlington, for 18 years, he has spoken at schools, senior centers and other venues spreading his knowledge to help drum up business. This would not have been possible if he hadn't developed his speaking skills.

"I never would have had the courage or the belief in myself to do that," he says.

Eventually Zuiker plans to do public speaking consulting full-time.

"I know what it was like being that person that was so afraid to speak," he says.

Zuiker believes that fear of public speaking is related to self-esteem.

"Your thoughts, your ideas are just as important as anyone else's," he insists, and being passionate about your topic will enable you to command attention.

Everyone has funny, poignant stories to tell, Zuiker observes, noting that once you learn how to speak in public, you can motivate people, make them laugh or move them to tears.

"It's a great power to have," he says.

"Shut Up! A Quiet Guide to Speaking" can be purchased at Wild Birds Unlimited, 2347 North Harrison St., Arlington, Va., or by e-mailing wildbirdmez11@verizon.net.