1. Prepare, prepare, prepare!
2. Practice in front of a full-length mirror, for small groups.
3. Be positive. "I am a good speaker rainer."
4. Expect to be nervous. [deep breathe, exercise by walking, stretch, visualize your success, meditate] Make anxiety your ally. Increase your energy; heighten your awareness.
5. Focus on your audience. [It is NOT about you. You are there to help your audience]
6. Simplify. Use your time wisely and keep your presentation clear and simple so that your audience can understand what you are saying.
7. Connect with your audience. Look people in the eye, one at a time, as you speak to them. The audience wants you to succeed.
8. Act confident. Smile. Hold your chin up. Stick your chest out. When you do this, you will feel confident. Remember, YOU are the authority on the subject and they want to hear what you have to say.
9. Use humor wherever possible.
10. Offer the right message mix (inform, persuade, entertain, interact)
11. Establish credibility by the use of facts, statistics, and stories.
12. Learn from your mistakes. Making mistakes is part of your learning process. Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, said, "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
