According to John Bowe, a contributing writer for The New York Times, being a great public speaker has nothing to do with your personality, with overcoming shyness or learning to act confident. It’s a technical skill that nearly anyone can acquire.

He says it is important to know your audience: Who are they? How do they view the world or the situation? What do they already know about you and your topic? What will they benefit from listening to you talk?

Additionally, know the purpose of your speech: Why are you speaking to them? What do you want them to know? Why is it important? What are you trying to get them to do?

Then, it’s time to distill your message. An effective method is to use this simple, 15-word sentence: As a result of my [talk], they will understand [this], and respond by [doing that].

When you are preparing your speech:

Memorize your introduction and conclusion.
Use short sentences to express your ideas.
Keep the data to a minimum.
Record yourself and listen back to see what you can keep or change.