An interactive presentation is almost always more engaging than even the most solid lecture or PowerPoint. That’s because individual audience members are more likely to pay full attention when know that their participation may be called for at moment.
Below, find three ways to get your audience more involved and give a more compelling presentation.
Questions and Answers Are Key
A person’s investment in a given situation will likely increase if they feel they may be able to contribute something to the group experience. According to Forbes, up to 91% of people tune out or daydream during at least part of the average business presentation. Wake your audience up by asking questions of the room throughout the presentation, and make it clear you expect answers. Encourage participation by making eye contact or gesturing with those who seem most alert and eager to speak.
Alternately, invite your listeners to ask their own questions at different points throughout the presentation rather than waiting until the very end to open up the floor. Again, this keeps everyone awake and the wheels turning.
Prop, Drop And Roll
Whenever possible, get physical! That doesn’t mean just pacing back and forth without purpose, but moving when it makes sense, using big gestures to drive emphasis home, and physically demonstrating points in some way all get high marks in terms of holding audience interest. Don’t be afraid to use humor or emotion as you present.
Better still, props can help illustrate a point while adding visual interest. When a prop can be passed around, you have added the sense of touch to your interactive presentation. The more senses that can be engaged, the better. What’s more, you can encourage the audience to briefly discuss the object with their neighbors as they examine it and pass it along. After the prop has made its rounds, tap into the momentum you just created by asking or inviting follow-up questions.
Make It Personal
One of the best pieces of advice in terms of audience engagement is simply this: Know your audience and then use what you know. The Hamilton College Oral Communication Center recommends grabbing audience attention by making your topic about them whenever possible.
If you have a personal connection to the town, business or institution where you are speaking, make sure your audience knows it. Strive to make points that speak to not only to the location, but to the mindset of those who are present. You can’t always tweak your topic, but you can work to anticipate how the audience will likely receive what you have to say and make adjustments to your approach.
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