They say that our greatest fear – once you eliminate death as a choice – is public speaking. And yet many of us are called to take that plunge on a regular basis. Whether we are speaking to group of two in a sales presentation or we’re standing at a lectern with hundreds of eyes on us, the intent is the same. We want to impart knowledge, persuade, entertain and be remembered. And above all, we want to get through the presentation without looking like a fool.

I’m one of those rare individuals who isn’t freaked out at the idea of speaking to a group. I like it. But I think I enjoy it because I have a very set routine of prepping for each speech. By the time I step up to the lectern or approach the next sales call, I’m confident that I won’t embarrass myself.

Here are my secrets to prepping and delivering a presentation that gets them to ask you back:

Know your audience: One of the easiest ways to get off track with a presentation is to either talk over the audience’s head or at a level that is insulting because your audience is way ahead of you. Not only do you need to understand where they’re coming from in terms of knowledge, but also in terms of personality. Are they an audience who asks a lot of questions? Are they open to small group activities or sharing information about their work?

Grab them right up front: You need to quickly take charge of your audience. In a large group setting, you might tell them a powerful story. In a sales presentation, you might lead with a stat or fact that is guaranteed to grab their attention. Too many speakers limp into their presentation, either by telling a lame joke or by getting too technical too fast. You want an emotional reaction of some kind to kick things off.

Assume the worst: I’ve watched many speakers melt into a puddle of goo right in front of an audience because their PowerPoint didn’t load right or their video worked but there was no sound or the Internet connection was faulty. When it comes to speaking and technology, assume it will fail. Always have a backup (your presentation on multiple flash drives, the YouTube video online but also on a DVD, etc.). You need to be ready to deliver your presentation in the pitch black with no power, if need be. If you’re that prepared, you’ll worry a whole lot less.

Think sound bites and repeats: In today’s “tweet while you are talking” world, you want to give your audience plenty of tidbits to share. Give them key facts, stats and catch phrases. Imagine someone from your audience going back to the office and retelling a story you told during your presentation. Which one would get retold? If you answered “none of them,” then you’d better come up with a story that is so funny, compelling, astounding or illuminating that people won’t be able to help repeating it.

Be ready to improvise: At the end of the day, there are many elements of giving a presentation that are out of your control. So even though I am advocating ample prep time, you also have to realize that sometimes you just have to go with the flow. If you can keep your sense of humor and your balance, your audience will reward you for it.

Odds are you were invited to make the presentation. So remember that your audience is eager for you to be successful as well. Do the prep work, have faith that you know what you’re talking about and try to enjoy the conversation.