Do you suffer from glossophobia? You may be unfamiliar with the term, but if you’re one of the 25 percent of Americans who have a fear of public speaking, you can safely answer “yes” to that question. Most of us experience some degree of nervousness when faced with speaking in public. Whether that means you suffer from a mild case of the jitters or experience anxiety so paralyzing it prevents you from taking to a podium, you’re not alone and there is help.

One of the best ways to conquer the nervousness associated with public speaking is to improve your public speaking skills. Accountants aren’t always sitting behind their desks; many are called upon to speak in public, at industry conferences and other events. The following tips are easy, practical actions that will help you become a better public speaker in no time.

Acknowledge your fear

When it comes to public speaking, fear sometimes gets out of hand. For naturally shy individuals, the fear of standing before a group can be mortifying. Regardless of your public speaking fear level, the best first step is to acknowledge your fear and consider what it is that frightens you. By doing so, you may realize that your worst fears are unlikely to be fulfilled. For example, chances are no one is going to laugh at you and you’re not going to trip and fall.

Prepare in advance

This is essential even for the most confident and skilled public speakers. In addition to knowing your material well and timing your presentation, be sure to know your audience. Try to learn why they are interested in your topic, the audience demographic and anything else you can garner in advance. Event organizers often have this information and are happy to reveal it to you. Delivering a tailored speech makes your content more relatable and helps you capture your audience’s attention.

Smile

If you smile at your audience, chances are most of them will smile back at you. If you’re able, you can take this one step further and greet your audience at the door as they enter the venue. Add a handshake and a simple, “Hello, I’m glad you’re here,” to further mitigate pre-speech jitters.

Be mindful of your voice

If you’re shy, you may be tempted to whisper. Or perhaps your voice rises in pitch when you get nervous. Regardless of any voice changes you experience when faced with speaking to a group, be mindful of those changes. Try speaking to someone off-stage just before your speech to help make you mindful of your normal speaking voice.

Organize your content

No one wants to hear you read a speech verbatim. Organize your content in such a way that allows you to work off an outline. Well-organized content that you know well is easy to navigate when you are standing in front of an audience.

Start strong

Ice breakers are important in a tense situation, so don’t forget to use one; however, make sure your opening remarks are strong and convey confidence. Beginning with a short, engaging story related to your topic is an excellent way to capture your audience’s attention.

Be professional, but be yourself

From the way you dress to your demeanor, professionalism is a must, but don’t forget to show some personality. People will relate to your human qualities and be more receptive to what you have to say if you let them know you’re being yourself when onstage.

Use supporting materials

A picture truly is worth a thousand words. Using visuals in your presentation can quickly convey ideas in an entertaining way. Not to mention, a well-planned PowerPoint or slide show provides another place for eyes to fall besides on you, thus taking some of the pressure off while you’re in front of the group.

Keep your hands to yourself

A degree of natural movement is a plus when you’re delivering a talk, but be aware of nervous habits like finger tapping, hand wringing or nail picking. You may not realize that you fidget when speaking until you practice your speech in front of a colleague, friend or family member. This is another reason preparing in advance is so important.

If you make a mistake, carry on!

Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect, and no one expects you to be, either. Even the most experienced speakers misspeak at times. What sets the pros apart from everyone else is that they carry on like they never missed a beat.

With every public speaking engagement, your goal is to convey useful information your audience understands and finds valuable. With these tips, you can polish your public speaking skills so all your presentations are delivered with confidence and clarity, which makes for a successful, memorable presentation.