Have you ever felt "butterflies" in your stomach, whenever you are called upon to give a presentation? You are not alone. Stage fright has often been rated as amongst the greatest fears of people, along with other fears, like fear of heights. Feeling nervous is only natural because it shows that you care about doing well at the presentation. Speaking before an audience is not as difficult as what it appears to be. Yes, you too can give successful presentations easily, with the following tips.

Preparing your presentation
Know Your "Terrain". Celebrated military strategist, Sun Tzu said: "Know your enemy, know yourself and your victory will be undoubted. Know Earth, know Heaven and your victory will be completed."

Applying this concept in the context of successful presentations, there are no enemies that you have to defeat, but there are audiences that you have to win over. Needless to say, you should also have full mastery of the presentation materials. Knowing the profile of the audience and their needs would provide you with the information to tailor the contents and materials of your presentation to their requirements. The time and effort invested in revising your presentation materials and rehearsing your presentation would pay off in you being more relaxed and confident during the actual presentation.

Dress for Success. Never underestimate the importance of the way you dress for your presentation. Although your dress sense is not a substitute for the substance of your presentation, it goes a long way in complementing a well-prepared presentation. The appropriate attire helps to project the presenter's authority and credibility, in the eyes of the audience. The general rule of thumb is for the presenter to dress one level above the audience, in accordance with the occasion.

Delivering your presentation
Mesmerize Your Audience. Ever wondered why certain speakers were oozing with charisma and were able to captivate the audience? The secret lies in their ability to engage their audience through effective rapport building. For a start, always bring on your million-dollar smile. Think of yourself as speaking to a group of friends whom you have known for a long time. Speak with conviction. Maintain eye contact with the audience. Let them know that you are here to share what you know with each one of them. Prepare your presentation well, so that you do not have to read from your notes and risk the loss of eye contact and rapport with the audience. Be natural, be yourself. Let your voice resonate and vary accordingly. Let your gestures flow in sync with your thoughts. Research revealed that seven per cent of communication is delivered directly through your words, 38 per cent is attributed to your voice as in the rate, pitch and volume, and 55 percent is attributed to your body language.

Work with Words and Props. Some presenters have made the mistake of trying to impress the audience by using multi-syllabic words. More often than not, the results do not match the intent. Choose instead to use simple words to convey your idea or message. Another option is to use props to help the audience "see" your point. As the saying goes: "A picture speaks a thousand words." Notwithstanding the power of simplicity, the use of jargons and technical lingo would be appropriate in certain situations such as a technical presentation to a niche audience.

Evaluating your presentation
When the opportunities arise, always ask for feedback on your presentation. Audience feedback is often one of the most valuable resources available that you can use to prepare for your next presentation. Meeting the needs of the audience is like meeting the needs of our clients. The audience is the reason why we are called upon to give presentations in the first place. With the knowledge of what you have done well, the areas that need improvement and how these can be applied henceforth, your presentation skills can only grow from strength to strength.

Wishing you successful presentations, always!