Ease the agony of Public Speaking.

Don’t be yourself. Contrary to what you’ve been told, it’s the most important rule to remember when speaking to a group of any size, says Ruth Drizen-Dohs, CEO of Drizen-Dohs Corporate Communications. “In the corporate world, you want to be perceived as confident, credible and sincere — qualities you don’t always exude in real life.”

Drizen-Dohs, an executive speech coach, says whether you have an audience of 20 or 2,000, always practice your speech in front of someone else first. Have them point out your speech patterns and pay attention to how you move your body.

“When you get up in front of any group, you are under a microscope,” says Drizen-Dohs. “You want to look like the most important person in the room.” That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to dress conservatively. An edgy accessory is appropriate as long as everything is pulled together in a clean, classy and professional manner.

Once you look the part, establish credibility with your audience. Research the industry you’re speaking to so you can use anecdotes that reflect their business and relay stories specific to your experience with their market or company.

It’s crucial that you address your audience appropriate to its size. Although there are many commonalities between presenting to groups that range in size, there are also many differences.

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