Do you wish you had exceptional presentation skills? Are you are fed up with not getting noticed, not getting ahead, and being a wallflower? If so, it’s time to take a step forward.

Giving phenomenal presentations is a lot simpler than it looks. Imagine you are cooking a wonderful meal. You’ve made it before. You feel confident. You’ve been to the farmers market or farm stand. You know for a fact: all the fresh ingredients will transform into a delicious outcome. Your friends and family will be blown away.

Presenting is a lot like cooking. When you first start out…it seems overwhelming. But with a great teacher, a proven recipe and plenty of practice, you quickly build new skills.

Strangely, many people believe that presenting is not a ‘learnable’ skill. This may stem from the belief that some people are talented communicators—while others are hopelessly fearful. This is just false belief.

And as you may already know FEAR is also an acronym for: false evidence appearing real. Fear keeps many people at the sidelines. It holds back their careers. It stifles their ability to share ideas.

But if you’ve been feeling afraid, you don’t have to stay in that state of mind. Now, it’s much easier than ever before to discover new presentation skills. Just like learning to cook…once you learn how to give presentations, you’ll feel an inner sense of confidence and certainty. You’ll have a gut feeling that guides you.

In many situations where previously you trembled or felt reluctant to speak, you’ll step up to the front of the room. Imagine what this will do for your career. When you are up at the front, speaking with poise and elegance, people listen. They see you as the expert. They want to know your opinion. 5 minutes in front of the right audience can do more for you than a year at your desk.

Think of presenting in 5 phases. At each phase there are specific resources, skills and tools that make you successful.

1. Preparation

Great presentations (like great meals) require fresh ingredients and careful preparation.

2. Structure Your Story

Stories are highly memorable. Weave your data, facts and research into a story that everyone understands.

3. Deliver With Impact

The best preparation and story come to life with passionate delivery. Voice, body language, audience interaction all come into play here.

4. Connect Visually

People learn and remember information visually. Use pictures, whiteboard sketches, props and visual maps to simplify your story.

5. Handle Questions and Answers

Think fast and think on your feet. Handling questions under fire is the mark of a professional and confident presenter.

If you’re looking to improve your presentation skills, keep this in mind. You can learn new skills. Skills, unlike abilities or natural talents, can be learned. You don’t have to be born with a talent gene, or a gift for charismatic presenting. Presenting skillfully in front of any audience is a specific set of skills—which you can learn.

Plus, it’s easier today than ever before to learn these skills. You don’t have to wait for your boss to approve a class or seminar. You don’t have to hold off. You can take charge of your learning—and of your future.

Take a creative and disciplined approach to build your business communication skills. Once you learn the step-by-step approach, you won’t have to reinvent the wheel each time you give a speech, talk or briefing. You’ll know exactly what steps to take, how much time to allow, and how to present concisely and persuasively.

Isn’t it time you stepped to the front and turned up the heat? Isn’t it time you took your presentation skills to the next level?