Recently, there was a report in the press that the best way to ensure that you make a great speech is to have sex just before getting on the podium! Well, that might work for some of our politicians, but for those of us in corporate life who have to make speeches every other day in stiff (pun unintended) formal settings, the advice lacks practicality.

So here, beyond the theoretical clap trap, are some broad practical tips for doing it well...

1. Rehearse-rehearse-rehearse, Practise-practise-practise: Believe me, every practice session makes you that much better - so just do it!

2. Adjust your Voice: Listen to a recording of yourself. What does your voice sound like? High-pitched? Grating? Inaudible? Well, now that you know about it, rectify it.

3. Monitor and adjust your body language: Practice in front of a mirror. Do you hold yourself well? Are your gestures smooth and natural?

4. Get your pace right: make sure you aren’t racing through your speech. Conversely, a slow delivery leads to distraction and boredom for your audience.

5. Make eye contact: Look around your audience, pick out the attentive listeners and make eye contact with them. Keep shifting your gaze so that it looks like you are talking to everybody. Don’t address your speech to the walls (yes, walls have ears as we all know, but they aren’t interested in your speech)