The thought of speaking in front of a crowd, even people we know well, can be petrifying. The good news is that this can be overcome relatively easily. With a bit of preparation and practice, you can turn those nerves into a compelling presence.

Start off small. At meetings, steadily make a habit of chipping in until your contributions grow. Seek out opportunities to make presentations. Get tips from seasoned speakers. Take risks and try different styles to find the right fit. Solicit feedback and learn from experience.

The delivery is as important as the content. Establish the goals of your presentation. Consider your audience’s expectations. What will they want to take away from this? Settle on a structure and pace that fits the timeframe you have. Rehearse in front of people you trust.

Get a feel for the venue. Find out what resources it has and familiarize yourself with any equipment that may be required. Finally, prepare a checklist that covers things like audience size, having enough handouts, and technical support. Feeling prepared is a distinct advantage.

What not to do: Don’t rely on the magic of spontaneity to get you through. Don’t assume your audience is hostile or knows a lot about your topic. Don’t talk too quickly, quietly, or in a monotone. Don’t avoid eye contact, fidget, or hide behind a lectern. Don’t resist questions.

Body language is crucial. Study clips of successful speakers. Video yourself rehearsing to see what you can improve. Make sure your pockets are empty and that your posture is straight. Assume a confident stance. Keep your eyes on the audience, not your notes.

Consider visual aids. Presenting without any puts more pressure on your delivery. Having relevant, self-explanatory cues to illustrate your points (without distracting or overloading the audience) helps with engagement. It also keeps the key points focused and memorable.

Use ‘signpost’ language (“First of all…”, “Finally…”) to guide the audience. Adding a short question (“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”) helps build consensus. Beginning with negative questions (“Shouldn’t we start now?”) is more persuasive. Using intensifiers (“extremely”) adds oomph.

Opening with a hypothetical challenge is an effective way to lure people in. An amazing fact is a handy way to sustain interest, though only if used appropriately. Stats can win over people’s intellect, but a strong anecdote (short, relevant, and rehearsed) wins hearts.

The power of three – breaking things into three parts – is a simple but compelling technique. No matter how many points you have, group them under three headings. Likewise, three-part sentences or phrases (e.g. “Of the people, by the people, for the people”) are infectious.