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Ex-BBC radio presenter Virginia Phillips is a member of the IMechE and a senior consultant for communications training firm the Aziz Corp. She says the key thing with engineering is that it is a technical discipline. But often you have to present the outcome of your work and you have to communicate with the people who don't understand the technical side. Bob Ferguson, a member of the IMechE Management Group board and owner of a business called Confident Communications, says audiences digest information in three different ways: visual, audio and kinaesthetic learning. Using all three will help to give a good structure to your presentation.

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Forget feeling butterflies. For many of us, the thought of standing up in front of people to do a presentation is terrifying - especially knowing that those same people could be bored senseless while you are doing it. But this frightening prospect is becoming more common in engineering, with universities now holding classes specifically about the subject.

The experience is sure to come in useful once the students graduate and enter the world of work. A proposal for a project to cut costs on an operation, for instance, may see an engineer having to do a presentation, not just to the board of directors, but to lawyers and the press too.

Ex-BBC radio presenter Virginia Phillips is a member of the IMechE and a senior consultant for communications training firm the Aziz Corporation. She says: "The key thing with engineering is that it is a technical discipline. But often you have to present the outcome of your work and you have to communicate with the people who don't understand the technical side."

So, what makes a good presentation? Phillips says it's one that modifies the behaviour of the audience, so that they do something in your favour, which they would not have done had you not spoken to them. After all, the purpose of your presentation is not for your audience to clap and say well done. You want them to agree to your project proposal, so you must communicate in a way that your audience understands.

Therefore, before you set foot behind the microphone you should know your audience and learn a bit about the people you will be speaking to. Phillips says: Tou have to entice people to listen, and to do that you have to understand who that audience is and what they want to hear."

Bob Ferguson, a member of the IMechE Management Group board and owner of a business called Confident Communications, says audiences digest information in three different ways: visual, audio and kinaesthetic learning. Using all three will help to give a good structure to your presentation. It will also help to deal with the "midway sag" - when most people tend to lose interest But don't rely on visuals, especially PowerPoint Too much text and imagery can confuse people and divert their attention away from the most important point of focus - you.

A good way to hold the audiences attention is to add variety in the way you talk. Using dramatic contrasts between your delivery of words during the start, middle and end of sentences, for instance, has a big impact. Pauses are also effective. Not only do they help you breathe, but help the audience to take in what you have said.

Ferguson says: "The bit that keeps the audiences interest is variety, and that's true of your sentences, your pitch, your tone and pace."

How you open and end your presentation is crucial because this is where you grab and leave your audience. Phillips says: "If you can't grasp their attention at the beginning then you are fighting a losing battle." A good way to begin is to ask a rhetorical question.

But opening with a joke is a big no, no. "Avoid jokes like the plague," says Ferguson. "If the joke falls flat then you have just killed your audience."

To get a strong finish to your talk, Phillips recommends using a good payoff line. She says: "It is really worthwhile thinking about a very punchy payoff line, which summarises your presentation and what you want your audience to do for you once they leave that room."

The key to giving a good presentation and to help get rid of nerves is to put in lots of preparation beforehand. Rehearsing two or three times in front of a colleague can help. It is also wise to rehearse your presentation so that it runs a few minutes shorter than the expected length. "The audience is always going to thank you for finishing a little bit early," says Phillips. "It's best to keep it punchy. Short, sharp and to the point"

Nerves can cause you to speak in a shaky, highpitched voice. But doing some simple breathing exercises and warming-up your voice before your presentation can prevent this.

And, if nerves do get the better of you during your talk, Phillips' advice is to stop. "Stop, don't worry about the pause, take stock of the situation and have a glass of water," she says. "Even though it seems like an interminable silence to you, actually, to the listener, it isn't. "Everybody makes mistakes," she adds. "It's all about not giving into the nerves, about stopping and taking control."

A good presentation can secure a new contract for you or your team. It can also help to improve working relationships with clients, and boost your career prospects. But don't expect to get it right first time. Like most things, a good presentation comes with practice, so why not speak to your colleagues after your talk, to see how you did.

"It is very important to learn if you have been successful at your presentation," says Phillips.