Most adults have a dire fear of public speaking.
In fact, public speaking ranks ahead of fear of dying as the number one anxiety of adults, according to Bonnie McAlister, a Davidson College speech instructor and business consultant. In spite of these fears, she said people can give a memorable presentation, respond to difficult questions and handle volatile communication situations by understanding the basic mechanism of communication and using time-tested strategies. Focus on the Recipient Bonnie McAlister Bonnie explained the dynamics of effective presentations. Conveying the message effectively to the recipient is the speaker's key responsibility. This is accomplished by focusing on the needs and interests of the recipient and communicating the message in a way that makes sense to the recipient.