Do you have glossophobia? It’s the fear of public speaking and is considered the number one fear in the US—more than heights, spiders, and death! Public speaking is not one of my fears, in fact, I enjoy it. The largest group that I have presented to was 5,000-plus participants, but the room was so large and dark that I couldn’t see anyone. Personally, I think it’s more difficult to speak when you can’t see and respond to the audience’s body language. However, audience size or room logistics will not ultimately matter—it’s the quality of your speech that counts. Whether you are speaking to a large or small group, here are some simple tips to make your speech stronger.

1. Begin your speech/presentation with a strong personal story, fact, or interesting anecdote. The audience expects to be hooked by you and your message within the first few minutes.
2. Don’t begin to speak as soon as you get to the microphone. This will make you look nervous. Take a deep breath and begin speaking with confidence and enthusiasm.
3. Be conscious of your body language. Hands should not be in your pockets or eyes looking up at the ceiling.
4. You don’t have to hide behind the podium throughout your speech. Engage with the audience.
5. If you are showing a PowerPoint, have a backup plan. The rule is to expect that the technology will fail.
6. Make sure that your speech provides valuable takeaways. Tell them something new and inspire them to take action.
7. Don’t begin your speech with saying, “Thank you.” It wastes valuable time. You can end your talk by saying “thank you” as they are giving you a round of applause.

Certainly, there are many more tips for successful public speaking, but the bottom-line is to practice and gain experience. Think of it as a sport: The more you practice, the better you will be.

What phobia have you pushed past? What skill do you need to practice to become better at?