Take the angst out of approaching the podium. It is said speaking from the podium if feared more than death by some. You can take some of the fear out of a presentation -- whether it's to a small group of friends or associates or to a larger group, by deciding which role to play when you speak. Pick the one that is easiest for you and you will find yourself speaking better and enjoying it more. The roles are: REPORTER - you are merely informing your audience about the subject from interviews you have conducted among the "experts." By being a reporter and telling only what you have been told, you free yourself from having to be the expert. "Here's what I saw," is an easy message to deliver; FACT SEEKER - you re merely relating that you have sought out some facts (identified by somebody else) and relaying those facts to your audience; ENTERTAINER - you are telling a story, perhaps a funny one about the subject and are commenting on the facts as they appear to you but still you are taking no ownership of them; MESSENGER - you have been given the message and you are merely delivering it as best you can; and, EXPERT - you have the facts, the theories, the authority to tell others about the subject and will stand behind any conclusion you offer. Just remember, you don't have to be the expert unless you want to be. Ask yourself how you can be most effective: as a reporter, a fact seeker, an entertainer, a messenger, or the expert him/herself. Structure your presentations around your model and enjoy.