How Do You Get More Interaction During a Presentation?

An often-recurring question: How do you get more value from meetings? I'm not talking about the weekly sales meeting where a handful of salespeople report their figures and go through the targets ahead. I'm talking about meetings in the form of seminars, conferences and congresses.

One way to increase value and to ensure that attendees take something home is to engage the attendees.
Many have probably heard the quote from Chinese philosopher Confucius: "Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I will learn." Now that we know we must involve the audience, the next question is "How?" Most of those who have heard the quote have probably delivered a presentation on a podium, and asked for questions afterward, just to see a roomful of mostly blank faces.

So what can we do about this? One idea is to begin with the beginning. What does the meeting organizer hope to achieve with the (string of) presentation(s)? Is this purpose clearly stated, and are the attendees there for the same purpose? As a speaker, have you tried asking the audience about their expectations before you show the first slide? You can hardly ask several hundred, but if you walk down on the floor, and press a few people for a response this will often break the ice.

This may be risky, since you may have to adjust your presentation to match other expectations than those you had originally prepared for, but it would still be better than to just “play your tape” and miss totally.
If you are acceptably synchronised with the expectations another idea is to make a short break about halfway. Summarize how you have been delivering towards the stated expectations. Ask attendees to discuss in twos or threes how they can use the new information when they get back to their workplace. Repeat this exercise at the end of your presentation. Now ask for feedback of how the various groups have found the information useful. Do not look for agreement or consensus throughout. To the contrary—the more different suggestions for follow-up, the better.

I’d like to know if anyone has tried anything like this. Many speaker slots are set to last for 40-45 minutes. If you try the above, you will probably be down to a maximum of 30 minutes speaking. Are you able to reduce your speech by 33 percent? Are you able to stay quiet and listen in case you succeed in getting feedback?

Edgar Valdmanis is the marketing director of the Norwegian Computer Society, and president of Meeting Professionals Norway Chapter.

Comments

[Annmarie]

"How do you get more value from meetings?"
A presenter should utilize a multisensory approach when presenting to a group. Arriving early and meeting with participants is a great way to build connection. Standing at a podium appears static. A presenter should always be moving. Power point presentation can be boring. Not all participants are visual learners. Getting participants involve from the onset by introducing a great story that captures their attention and hold back the end for the last will motivate the audience.
Additionally, 5 minutes should be allocated for introduction. Using a game as a form of introduction is a great way to get their participation. The general rule is talk less, give participants time to interact with information, use music, role play, and repetition. This will definately keep your audience awake and give them something to take back.

[Colin Cosgrove]

I agree with much of this, in fact, the subtle point of actually getting out from behind the podium can be all that is needed to make people more at ease - both the presenter and the audience. Once people are at ease, they are more likely to interact. Too many presenters overlook this basic concept.

Love the 10-20-30 rule!

[Thomas Symington]

I agree with the writer to an extent. It is very important to get the audience involved in the presentation. One of the techniques that has been very successful for me is to talk to some of the attendees prior to the presentation. Also if there are different companies in the room, then find that out and address a company and person from that company while doing a presentation. Sort of a general question as to how Infotech handles shipping overseas or something like that. To get an attendee in the conversations perks up the entire audience by change of voice. Also, which I think is the most important part of any presentation it paints a picture of everyday problems that clients have, and your having someone else describe it, while you (the Presenter) will solve it.

[Enrique Burgos]

I`´m absolutely agree with your comments, Edgar, I meet several speakers with decens of slides and in a 12 points font presentations. Terrible. RElated to this field, I just read a post published on Guy Kawasaki Blog, explaining his 10-20-30 Rule of Powerpoint:"...a PowerPoint presentation should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points...". I think it´s one of the best advices I readed about speeches & presentations. Put it on practice, very useful.