Public speaking seldom comes naturally, in the business world or in ordinary life. As professional speaker Jan Fraser put it, "People would rather be surrounded by snakes than to get up in front of a group."

Although many of us dislike speaking in front of groups, Ms Fraser said: "There is a demand for powerful presentation skills in any business environment. I'm so thrilled to be received warmly like I have been. Obviously, speaking is an issue. I think communication is critical to success. If you can present your case, if you can be passionate about it and present it in a way that's not offensive, and yet get your point across, then you're in demand."

Ms Fraser's job description falls under the category of "helping people to be more successful": she is a speaker, trainer, coach and author. From 9 until 4 today at the Chamber of Commerce in Hamilton she will be tutoring a workshop on Presentation Skills and Power Speaking.

For motivational speakers themselves, attaining the position is more a matter of acquiring experience than official qualification.

"I wish I could say there was a magic formula," Ms. Fraser said. "I wish I'd had my Presentation Skills and Power Speaking class before I started out. But I've reached the heights and joys of speaking through trial and error."

Born in Ohio, Ms. Fraser — who is married to Bermudian Ian Coles — has conducted training in the US and Bermuda over the past year and a half. Her own entry to professional speaking came through work in the airline industry.

"I came from the corporate world, from being a trainer for American Airlines — I trained flight attendants," she said.

"I was a flight attendant for American Airlines, and I used to work for Delta and for Eastern Airlines, so I came to this by motivating flight attendants.

"It was that venue that led me to believe that I could go out on my own and do professional speaking. American hired me to be on a team and go around the world, to 87 Air Force bases worldwide, to talk about customer service and leadership.

"I love customer service, as well. If we don't have exceptional customer service, our customers are going to go somewhere else. My trainings at the Chamber in Hamilton and for private business clients are based on my experiences and from my book, 'Keeping Customers for Life'.

"Once you provide amazing customer service, you really do keep these customers for life. They're the frequent flyers of your customer service programme."

Ms Fraser cheerfully admits to being plagued by shyness as a child: "I couldn't speak up. I couldn't even ask for a cookie."

She points to a pivotal experience when she was a high school student.

"I had a life-changing moment — I went to an event at church by myself, and I couldn't go in. I was so petrified, I walked three miles to the church, around the big blocks of the church three times working up the courage to go in.

"After walking home and then being coached by my sister, I went back to the church youth group and walked in. She told me to go up to the first person I met and to say, 'Hi, I'm Jan Fraser and I am on the welcoming committee, and I would like to welcome you to Dayton, Ohio.' Sometimes you just need one transformation moment, to plant a seed that you really can do it."

On the subject of the Island's special self-presentation quirks, Ms. Fraser answered carefully: "I think that Bermudians are beautiful, with a full range of emotions that sometimes are stronger than in certain areas of the States.

"I'm from California; we're pretty laid-back there. But sometimes I find that with Bermudians, they will speak up, and sometimes get a little volatile, and they may say things that in the long run they wish that they had tempered a little bit."

As ever, Bermuda's smallness defines many of its workplace issues.

"It's an island," Ms. Fraser said. "I run into people that I'm doing training with, people run into other people they've had some words with — we're going to be seeing these people again.

"So if we have a way to share with them how we feel, without hurting their feelings or blasting them, that's a good thing."

Today's session also covers "getting rid of filler worlds like um and um-um."

Ms Fraser's interests for Bermuda range from a possible talk show to writing books about relationships and presentation skills. She also pilots the Dream Club, a women's inspirational group which originated in Bermuda two years ago.

"Another of my goals is to reach the youth of Bermuda and help them present and speak," she said. "This summer season started with parents calling me and asking if I would coach their son or daughter … they're not out of school yet, but they need coaching on how to present themselves.

"Part of powerful speaking is feeling good about who you are. It is building self-esteem. Feeling like one can stand in front of a group and state one's case. And I always tell people, your gestures, your humanity, your authenticity, is powerful. We all have something — what is the special trait that you have?

"Make sure you share it with the world in your presentation."

Today's workshop at the Chamber of Commerce will be offered again on September 22.

Ms Fraser also plans a "PALS — Dream Dare Dance Second Annual Women's Conference" in Bermuda on October 30.

"We will have sessions for professional business women to see greater success, and personal sessions for women to gain more balance in their lives. All of the proceeds go for [cancer support group and charity] PALS."

For more information, contact jan@janfraser.com.