Here’s how to prepare:

Know your subject.

The more you know your topic, the more secure you’ll feel. Do your homework; anticipate ques­tions; be ready with additional information.

Practice!

Rehearse thoroughly before addressing the audience. You’ll get used to your own voice and to standing up and talking for 20 minutes. Practice also gives you the opportunity to make changes ahead of time, removing awkward sentences or changing words.

Arrive early.

Walk around, check out the facilities, familiarize yourself with the layout, and rehearse again at the venue.

Loosen up.

Do some relaxation exercises. Take a short walk. If you’re sitting down, wiggle your toes—it eases anxieties. Take slow, deep breaths. And avoid caffeine.

Know your audience:

What’s the point?

Don’t force your audience to guess what you’re trying to say. Use simple, straightforward language to tell them specifically what you want them to get out of your speech: “I want to talk to you today about solving the problem of…The three main things I hope you remember are…”

Keep things lively.

We live in a world of 100 channels and video on demand. Sitting still and listening to the same voice drone on and on (and on . . .) will feel like a slow boring death. Use visuals and music, walk around, practice varying your tone and pace—anything to avoid monotony.

What now?

Every good speech closes with a call to action. Tell your audience what to do with the information you’ve shared: Write to their senator, recycle their paper, eliminate waste in the workplace, and so forth.