A conference speech should be seen as an opportunity for your business to impress the delegates. However, delegates today expect more than an explanation of bland PowerPoint slides. It is very easy to give a bad presentation because of nerves, obscure messages, poor slides or poor preparation. But it is possible to conquer these problems:

Overcoming nerves
Although some techniques, such as breathing exercises, can help calm your nerves, the best way of overcoming your nervousness is rehearsal. You should prepare your message thoroughly so that you know exactly what you are going to say. This includes familiarising yourself with the technology you intend to use. Reiteration of all the bullet points of your PowerPoint presentation will be excruciatingly boring. Again, although technology is useful, remember that visual aids are simply props and need a well-prepared speech to ensure a successful presentation.

Relevance
Ensure that your message is relevant to your audience. If you tailor your speech to your audience, they are more likely to respond favourably to that message. The audience will also want you to personalise your speech, so as to make them feel like you are talking to them individually. Similarly, introduce yourself to your audience before you start so they know what you offer and what they can expect (although don't go on at length listing your products and services!).

Simplicity
Although you do not want patronise your audience, it is vital that the content of your presentation is clear. The audience will still expect, however, your wealth of knowledge to be demonstrated in your presentation. Try also to keep the speech succinct. Recent studies show that today's audiences' attention span is about 1000 seconds.

Presentation
Speak with clarity, both in terms of your message and your pronunciation. You should avoid jargon, especially when you are talking about ideas and methods the audience may be unfamiliar with. Good pronunciation is absolutely crucial to understanding. It is important not to mumble nor speak too quickly because they demonstrate a lack of confidence and make it harder for the audience to follow your argument. Clarity, confidence and persuasion are valuable skills, which all professionals should endeavour to improve. For a significant improvement in image and effectiveness, organisations should ensure that all executives are able to make powerful and persuasive presentations. You should be well prepared for questions you are most likely to be asked but try not to be over-prepared or over-rehearse. You should aim to be polished, yet appear spontaneous. Variety is absolutely key in bringing a speech to life. You should try to use lots of highs and lows in your voice, changes in pace and differences in emotional content. Your appearance is also important; you should be smartly dressed in black, navy or other neutral colours.

Structure
A speech should have a tight structure, with a clear message throughout. The audience must be captivated from the beginning, and this could be achieved through an anecdote, quote or question. The start is also important, because it sets the tone for the rest of the speech. If you state your argument clearly from the beginning, the audience will be enticed to listen to the rest of your talk. Similarly, a punchy ending is needed to leave a lasting impression of your conclusion in the audience's mind. You should remember to leave enough time for questions from the audience too, because nothing makes a speaker look better than two-way communication.

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