Mix and mingle.
“If you are the type that gets frightened or intimidated by speaking to large groups, it doesn’t hurt to speak to a couple people in the audience before you start your speech.” – Kate White
We may stand before crowds but we speak to individuals. While it may not be possible to mix and mingle before every sermon or speech, it does help to strengthen the human connection between speaker and audience. It creates warmth and removes the distance between seat and stage.