Originally Posted by wdsguy

I use to do speech and debate so i'll give this shot.

- Don't stand behind a podium
- make eye contact with your audience
- don't put your hands in your pocket
- use pauses in your speech to emphasis points and let them soak in
- stand up straight but relax
- watch the volume of your voice so its not monotone.
- If you are trying to break the ice try not to do it with a generic joke, what do the audience have in common - perhaps something funny about the industry you are in that everyone can relate to.
- if you are doing a power point presentation, don't defer all the attention to that - it should only supplement your speech.
- try not to use notecards, if you have to - just write a few main points down but you really want to be walking around and making a connection with your audience.