For many people, public speaking ranks right up there with undergoing a root canal procedure or facing a tax audit.

That’s too bad. Becoming comfortable in front of an audience is not as difficult as you might think. Plus, that skill is critical in today’s competitive, customer service-oriented marketplace.

The biggest hurdle to overcome, of course, is the fear of getting up in front of people. If you can handle all those eyes staring back at you, you’re on your way to becoming a comfortable and confident presenter.

Whole courses are devoted to public speaking. We can only touch on the fundamentals here. The rest is up to you. If you follow these tips, you will quickly become more at ease and confident in front of an audience.

Speak often: Hate to burst your bubble, but you won’t overcome your fear by reading this blog post (or any other material). You have to get up and speak. But it need not be a formal event. Give a toast at a reunion or anniversary. Provide the reading at your house of worship. Take advantage of any opportunity to stand up and say something.

Be prepared: This goes without saying. Do your research, write your notes, and prepare any necessary handouts or equipment. Rehearse your presentation as time permits. Confidence in your material builds confidence in you.

Survey the room: Spend a few moments before your presentation familiarizing yourself with your surroundings. Note any acoustical or other logistical issues (for example, outside noise) that you will have to overcome.

Test equipment again: Regardless of how smoothly your laptop and projector worked during your rehearsal, you must test them again. There’s no better way to ruin a presentation—and give you a case of the jitters that’ll last a lifetime—than to have equipment fail.

Greet audience members as they arrive: You'll develop a sense of talking to acquaintances or colleagues instead of total strangers.

Stand in front prior to introduction: Remain up front but off to the side. Scan the room to further familiarize yourself with that sea of faces and eyes.

Start strong: Open with a powerful question or comment to grab your audience’s attention.

Focus on your material: Deliver solid information in a professional manner, and your audience will concentrate on that instead of you.
Don’t dwell on nervousness. Odds are it won’t show, and most will evaporate within a couple minutes.

Put that energy to work: Use any nervous energy to add life to your presentation. Imagine there’s a small power plant inside you radia-ting energy. Tap that energy source to enhance your voice and gestures. If your audience senses you’re excited about the material, they will be as well.

Avoid negative thoughts: Some audience members may appear to be uninterested. It’s probably because they’re dwelling on some pressing matter. Don’t let that bother you. Press on with your presentation.

Remind yourself who’s the boss: You’re the expert. That’s why you were chosen to speak. Pump yourself up with powerful thoughts, such as “I’m the expert, and I’m going to wow them with this material.” Remind yourself regularly as your speech progresses.

Overcoming your fear of public speaking isn’t difficult. First, you must convince yourself that it is possible. Then, using the suggestions provided here, get out and speak as often as you can. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you become comfortable in front of an audience.