Before you go to the next business or networking event, embrace a curious mind-set. Wade into conversations and assume you will be welcomed and included.

Speakers also have to navigate through a variety of audiences. It behooves us to map a plan before we 'set sail', based on careful consideration of where we want to end up.

Feature language that makes you appear as an agent of change, not a helper or robot. Describe how you partner with your clients to create new strategies. And through examples, show how your tactics and unique insights drive business or growth.

In its infancy, a presentation needs editing (pruning), rehearsal (maintenance), and infusing or feeding it with your unique insights. If you only write out, memorize or read your content, you'll suck the life and energy out of it.

Consider the tone of your presentation and how it will be received by the audience or client. Spend time identifying your unique take on the topic. How do you feel about the message? For example, are you excited, proud, or challenged? Then choose the best role or filter to deliver your content.

In rehearsal, create pressure for yourself. To make sure you know your content without reading or memorizing it, start in the middle or go out of order... Do the entire speech out loud and extremely fast... Best of all, paraphrase your content.

The secret sauce to transforming a presentation from informational to compelling is including your personal insights. Use sensory recall to activate your imagination, so that descriptions, similes and analogies are vivid and unique.

What you may not realize is that even stage actors are typically shy. But with a role, they can play any character. The role is their mask.

Always consider your audience and intention. Do something unexpected like inserting a white board or flip chart. Engage the audience with questions or break-out exercises. Include your perspective or experience and don't be afraid of showing emotion. Disregard the norm and find your own way.

Beethoven and Mozart employed themes, or repeatable musical phrases in many of their compositions. The same technique can benefit speakers. Themes represent the whole idea of a talk, and orient an audience. Although usually suggested in the opening, a great theme can be employed anywhere within a presentation.