Right from your invitation to speak you can establish control of your audience. Firstly, act confidently even if you don't feel that way. Otherwise you may unnecessarily worry the organisers of the event.

Making the right preparations will ensure that you are in control of yourself and your audience even before they arrive:

- Know your audience - Research your audience thoroughly. There are many types of audience. Is it a professional conference or a football banquet? What do you know about the organisation? Ask the following: Why did they invite me? What do they want hear from me? What stories will work best?

- Good Publicity - Good publicity increase will increase your confidence as well as your popularity. As early as you can send publicity about yourself and your speech to the organisation.

- Prepare your speech - Determine the central idea that you want to convey. Gather content for your speech from various sources - your own experience, reading, interviews etc. Organise the contents in a logical fashion. Always keep your audience in mind when selecting stories and illustrations, etc.

- Practice, practice, practice - Run through your speech as often as possible. If available video or audio record your practice. Study and analyse the recordings to evaluate what is working well and what you can improve. The objective is to improve your delivery not to make you feel disheartened - be honest but do not condemn yourself.

- Check out the facilities - Arrive early so that you will have the opportunity to check out the room and the facilities. This will ensure you have the opportunity to fix any problems e.g. the microphone may not work properly; the audio visual equipment has not been set up correctly; etc. Dependent on the program of speakers you may be able to change the platform set up to suit yourself. Survey the room critically for any distractions or issues that can be resolved or managed. Do not leave anything to chance. Also if possible have a trial run in the room you are to deliver the speech. This will help you identify any further issues with room and the facilities. Also the trial run may help with any nerves you may have.

- Meet the program organisers - Discuss the program with them and find out any additional information or last minutes changes you should be aware of. Also, meet the person who is going to introduce you and discuss the introduction. Hand him your biography if he is unprepared. You want them to set the right scene for you. You don't want to be tripped up with an introduction that is incorrect or you haven't prepared an "ad lib" response to.

- Be Positive - speak to yourself positively. Go over the top in your positive self talk about yourself and your speech. Visualise a successful outcome. As a result you will feel good about yourself and your audience will respond positively. Additionally take some deep breaths to calm any nerves.

To summarise you must know your audience and your speech, check out the facilities and organisers and be positive. You will now be ready to confidently deliver your speech and win over the audience.