Presentations are one of the most important communication skills you’ll need as a professional. They’re also one of the most difficult to master. As a result, many people feel insecure about how to deliver better presentations. Fortunately, that insecurity can be eliminated if you know how to hack your presentation skills.

Presenting well doesn’t just depend on your voice and body language—it also depends on small details such as the type of slides you use and how long you spend preparing before each presentation. If you want to make sure your next presentation goes off without a hitch, read through these seven simple hacks that will make sure everything is running smoothly from start to finish:

Have a clear objective

Before you even think about what you’re going to say, you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish with your presentation. For example, are you trying to convince your audience to adopt a certain point of view?

Are you trying to answer specific questions that your audience might have? If you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve, you might feel like you’re floundering. However, without a clear objective, you might end up saying a bunch of things without really saying anything at all. And that isn’t something you want to do in a presentation.

Practice, practice, practice!

Perhaps the most important tip on this list, this one isn’t something you can skip over. You need to practice. A lot. The only way you’re going to get better at presentations is by constantly trying new things and observing how your audience reacts.

For example, try adding some humor to your presentations. Or make sure to include a few gestures that show off your personality. These are things you can do to make your next presentation a bit more exciting, which will make it a lot easier to stay engaged.

Use a timer

You know that nervous feeling in your stomach when you’re about to present? Those butterflies are likely caused by nerves and anxiety. But, if you can stay calm and collected, those butterflies can be transformed into excitement and motivation.

The best way to do this is to set a timer. This will immediately remove the biggest source of anxiety for presenters—the fear that they’re about to run out of time.

Do some research ahead of time

This tip is more for the audience than for you. However, it’s an important one that won’t go unnoticed. Before your presentation, take time to do a bit of research on your audience. What do they do? What are their concerns? What are their pet peeves? You might be surprised at some of the things you find out.

Stay hydrated and stretch every now and then

Another tip that won’t go unnoticed, present with a little bit of pep in your step. Avoid crossing your arms or legs and pacing rapidly. Instead, keep your arms and legs slightly apart and your spine straight. Avoid crossing your arms or legs and pacing rapidly.

Instead, keep your arms and legs slightly apart and your spine straight. This will help to prevent your presentation from feeling monotonous. Hydrate yourself before you start your presentation. This will help your body stay hydrated and prevent cramps from causing your voice to falter.

Use visuals to complement your speech

Visuals can make your speech seem more engaging, as you’ll be able to create a more engaging experience for your audience. Just make sure that you stay within the parameters of the presentation, as you don’t want to spend too much time on visuals rather than on the actual message of your presentation.

Always outline your presentation

This one might seem like common sense, but many presenters forget this crucial tip. Once you’ve prepared your presentation, video, outline your speech. This will help to reduce the number of mistakes you make and make sure that you stay on track. It’s better to outline your presentation than to wing it, as you might otherwise feel a bit unprepared.

Bottom line

To summarize, hacking your presentation skills means taking small steps each day to build your confidence and improve your skills.

This might mean practicing your delivery in front of a mirror, or it might mean delivering your presentation to a friend or family member and observing how they react to what you have to say. While you can’t completely eliminate your insecurities, you can eliminate the fears that are holding you back by simply applying these hacks.