The majority of us we are not blessed with natural ability in public speaking. We are self conscious and cannot remember the words that we intended to say. However, everyone has the ability to master the skill of speaking confidently. With a good attitude and application it is possible for all people to reap the benefits of effective public speaking. There are tried and tested techniques and steps for moving from beginner through to accomplished speaker. 1. Let's Be Brief - For your first public appearance be brief. It may only be that you state your name and occupation. And if you want to fidget put your hands behind your back or gently clasp your hands in front you about waist height. Don't worry about the audience knowing that you are a novice. You can make it a hit by acknowledging the fact. Just don't use the cliché "Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking..." Begin with something similar to "This is my maiden speech and my name is ....."

2. Expand your Brief - For your next appearance, you can expand your presentation by talking about a subject you are interested and knowledgeable about. Seek to convince the audience that the subject is interesting. Your enthusiasm for the subject will be contagious and will win the audience over. The conclusion of your talk should answer the question "so what?" The audience needs to know why they should be interested.

3. Practice at Every Opportunity - The acquiring of any skill requires practice. All top athletes were once novices. It was through frequent practice that they moved from beginner to expert. To become an excellent public speaker also requires practice. But where can you practice? With a little initiative you can find meetings locally to yourself that would make ideal "practice fields" such as local clubs.

4. Invite feedback - On the way to any goal there is a need for feedback to ensure you are on course. One of the best ways to know where you can improve your performance is invite feedback. To be most effective it should be given and received positively. It is important to invite this feedback from someone who is knowledgeable but also supportive. Alternatively you can deliver your speech to your friends and family and ask for their comments.

5. Preparing What You Are Going to Say - Before you prepare your speech ask "why was I invited to speak?" Your speech should answer this question. And make sure you are knowledgeable in answering that question either through experience or research When you are taking your first steps in public speaking you may want to write out your speech word for word. If you do this, it is important that you edit the speech to change it from written English to conversational English. If you memorise the speech make sure it flows and does not sound stilted. However, this is not the best approach. It would be better to prepare an outline for use in your practice and the actual presentation. Like a live theatre importance it is important you rehearse and rehearse. The better prepared you are the more confident you will be.

These 5 steps will build your confidence and you will overcome the normal human anxiety that we all face when delivering a speech. Victory will be yours.