If you suffer from sweaty palms, rapid heartbeat or any other telltale signs of anxiety when you have to give a presentation in front of a crowd, fear not. You’re not alone. Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking – is very common, but it’s also something that practice and technique can help allay. Here are six ways to enhance your public speaking abilities.

1. Start With a Story

Toastmasters offers examples of ways to incorporate a story into your speech that creates a personal connection between yourself and the audience. Starting off with a personal anecdote is incredibly helpful for nerves, as it requires you to step back from your notes and speak from your heart about an applicable yet individual addition to any presentation.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

This may sound obvious, but practice is the best way to make sure you step onto that stage confident and prepared. Try reading your speech to a colleague or friend until you have it memorized. The more confidence you have in your ability to share information, the better you will be when it comes time to present.

3. Look Good, Feel Good

Dressing for the job you want, not the job you have, is a common method of success. This translates directly to public speaking. According to the BBC, wearing more formal attire directly translates to work performance and self-assurance. If you dress your best, chances are you’ll feel your best onstage.

4. Don’t Forget To Breathe

If you’re nervous, the chances that you’re speaking faster than you think are strong. Don’t be afraid to stop and take a breath or a natural pause. This will help ground you in the middle of a speech and can even keep the audience engaged.

5. Appeal to Your Audience

Harvard studies point to emotional appeals as a major way to improve public speaking skills. Rhetorical questions are one of the most engaging ways to start a speech, as they pull the audience in by provoking thought. Also try cracking a joke in between statements. This will not only help engage the audience but can also take the edge off an otherwise daunting speech.

8 to 10 minutes
the average audience attention span
during a speech (Corporate Communications Experts)

6. Keep It Short & Sweet

If you can’t seem to fight the nerves, the good news is that the anxiety is temporary. The average audience attention span is only eight to 10 minutes, according to Corporate Communications Experts, which advises speakers to do something new or different every 10 minutes or so to reengage the audience. But it could also be license to keep your presentation concise and to the point – and less anxiety-inducing.