Leave nothing to chance

If you're using audiovisuals, make certain all equipment is working properly. If the program chair did her job, this will all have been taken care of. Don't bet your reputation on it.

Test the microphone. Have someone stand in the back of the room while you say a few sentences. The sound level should be adjusted so that you can talk into the mike in your normal voice and make yourself understood. Incidentally, you may find that you don't even need the mike. If you can do without it, don't use it.

Be sure you know how to adjust the mike so you will be able to move it to the right position for you after the previous speaker has used it. The idea is to make the adjustment before you start to speak. Avoid the awkwardness of having to say, ''Can everyone hear me okay?'' or something like that.

Ask the program chairman, the host, or master of ceremonies if there have been any changes since your most recent contact. What is your position on the program? Who will precede and follow you? Who will be at the head table?

When you're comfortable that everything checks out okay, you'll be more confident when you mount the podium. If you still have the jitters, here are some suggestions:

• While you're awaiting your turn at the lectern and when you rise to speak, think about the audience. They're a great group of people waiting eagerly to hear what you have to say. If you're concentrating on the audience, you can't be thinking of how you look, whether you'll goof up, whether you'll make a good impression.

• If you're troubled by dry mouth, try sucking on a piece of hard candy while you're waiting to speak. This will stimulate the saliva glands in your mouth.

• Try not to clear your throat while you're speaking. Instead, pause and take a swallow of water. Excessive throat clearing can make the problem worse.

• Practice deep, rhythmic breathing to help relax the body and the vocal cords. When you take a deep breath and let it out slowly, you can feel the tension drain away.

• Eat lightly before a speaking engagement. Although you don't want to be weak from hunger, a heavy meal can make you mentally and physically sluggish. When your stomach is full of food, blood is diverted from your brain to your digestive system.

• Go easy on the cocktails. Alcohol doesn't make you more articulate, it just makes you think you are. There's quite a difference. While one drink, or possibly two, might help you relax, more than that could spell disaster.

All these things can help, but the very best cure for nervousness is preparation. If you have prepared your speech properly and have followed my suggestions for practicing, you will know your material thoroughly and you'll have the confidence you need to make a good speech. And, as you continue to accept speaking invitations, you will improve, especially if you go back to this book again and again to review the fundamentals.