For most people, the idea of giving a presentation to a group of people is a fate worse than death. Recent research has shown that up to 87% of us regard it as more traumatic than air-travel, bankruptcy, death or moving home! We suffer from sweaty hands, palpitations, panic attacks, nervous laughter and in extreme cases some unfortunate people even find themselves spending frequent and extended periods in the bathroom. The problem is the same whether we are faced with an intimate after-dinner talk, a wedding speech or a lecture to a few hundred business or academic colleagues nerves. The novelist Mark Twain, author of 'Tom Sawyer' stated that 'There are two types of public speakers those that are nervous and those that are liars.' Controlling your nerves can mean the difference between sink or swim in the cut throat world we live in. A good public presentation can have a huge impact on one's professional standing and consequently, training courses in this art have proliferated to the extent that they can now be found throughout the country. These courses promise to convert the timid into the charismatic, the mouse into the maestro. The basic understanding is that public speaking can be learned through practice. We must always aim high, the theory goes, and not expect any pity from an audience: the worst thing you can do is provoke their sympathy. There are clear 'Dos and Don'ts' in this sphere one of the most basic is 'know your stuff'. If you know your material well then you can choose your words at the point of delivery. If you combine detailed research and confident delivery then the battle is half-won. Communications psychologists can help by providing some hints and tips. Lenny Laskowski, the US author of Ten Days to More Confident Public Speaking says that fear of public speaking regularly tops the charts of people's worst fears but that there are easy ways to improve one's performance. Something as simple as a smile can be the ultimate ice-breaker and gets you off to a good start. First impressions count: this might be a cliche but it is true nonetheless--your audience will judge you in the first 30 seconds. Be punctual.., turning up late is a death knell for your presentation. Dress appropriately--money goes to money: if you look the part, people will be more inclined to trust you and your product. Dress smartly and avoid novelty items such as loud ties which simply distract your audience. Test the equipment: nothing is worse than a presentation reliant on technology when the power goes off and you are left with nothing but your own lungs. You need to know who to call if things go wrong. Also, using IT technology may just be a hindrance to the delivery of your message. You should also relax. Breathe slowly and regularly, hold it for 5 or 6 seconds then exhale. Practice relaxing tense facial muscles such as those around the eyes and mouth. Above all, never, ever apologize for being nervous: it's the sign of a real amateur. Structure what you do: have the best material at the beginning and end and sandwich the rest in the middle. You need to keep it interesting and not just tail off to the end. Get rid of the script. while it may keep you on track, staring into your notes will alienate and bore your audience, they'll be asking why you don't just mail it to them instead! Lastly, your audience can quickly smell a fake. If you are one person at the bar and another at the podium, don't imagine your listeners won't notice. Don't try to be someone you are not.., be yourself (619) What is the author's attitude to high-tech equipment?