Instead, aim for delivering a presentation that is engaging, audience specific, and in sync with your values. Commit to your material. And let the chips fall where they may. Integrity is your ticket to success.

Find your approach, your voice, and your interpretation of the material. Even if your firm has constructed the content or PowerPoint, you can present it with your insights and personal style that will make it sing.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your development, aspirations and accomplishments over the years. Speaking with integrity and passion is the human gift-- make it your contribution to the world.

So, instead of boots of Spanish leather, let your gift of the season be a renewed sense of respect for and openness to others, signaled by a warm hello and welcoming gaze. Ola! Feliz Navidad!

When relating a client anecdote or example, avoid describing it clinically. Don't fabricate your stories, unless you have the writing skill and creativity of Graves. Not many of us do. Recall the actual event, so that your voice and descriptions are graphic, detailed, and of the moment. The immediacy of your narrative will transport your audience to another place and time.

Commit to your material. Be excited about sharing your unique approach. And focus on genuinely connecting with your audience. Then speak as often and wherever you can.

There is no question that stuff will happen when you present. Be ready and expect it. The gracefulness and candor you exhibit when things go awry is critical.

Variety is a speaker’s ace card. When you find yourself droning on or losing your audience, use a version of these two flash cards. It may ignite a moment of inspiration, or at the very least, change the attentional channel of your audience.

Speakers, like comedians, have to work on delivery and content. The more you do, the easier it becomes. Start in low-ante situations, the way Seinfeld performs in comedy clubs to test new material. Introduce a colleague, deliver a lunch-and-learn, or facilitate a panel and watch your skills increase as your stage fright diminishes. Consistency increases your ability, gives you a competitive advantage, and ensures success.

When you compose a talk, your content is like black and white notes on a page. But how you infuse your presentation with appropriate tone or emotion is the key to success. And like an excellent piece of music, it should carry the audience through a series of feelings, as well as thoughts. Use the colored pencils in your imagination, and like Yang, paint your presentation with many colors.