When you’re giving a presentation, the more engaged your listeners are, the better. It means they’re paying attention, interested in what you’re saying, and more likely to remember your message.
If you have, say an hour-long presentation, that doesn’t mean you should talk for the entire time. In fact, research has shown that people retain very little of what they hear when they’re passively listening. This is just one of the reasons why making your presentation interactive is so important.
Here are 10 ways to make your presentation more interactive:
1. Quiz-Style Questions
Not only do live polls help you understand how much your audience is comprehending during presentations, but they also keep the listeners engaged throughout longer speeches. This is especially useful during medical conferences. It gives them a sense of satisfaction to be able to raise their hands and show off their knowledge.
Participation from your audience can be increased by asking rhetorical questions throughout your presentation- this will also help you move between sections more smoothly. Use this to avoid any further confusion for your listeners as you go on with your presentation.
2. Add Humor to Your Speech
Some of the most fascinating speeches and presentations use humor throughout their content. Talented speakers will hold their audience’s attention by using natural charisma, amusing stories, and vivid language to drive home their points.
Engage your audience by making jokes that are relevant to your topic, and they will be more likely to remember what you say. Even the sleepy listener in the back row will perk right back up if you make them laugh.
3. Use Powerful Body Language
As they say, action speaks louder than words. Your body language affects how your presentation is received, so use it to your advantage! By considering non-verbal communication, you can make your meaning more clear and interesting for your audience.
According to Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk, adopting “assertive” body language increased testosterone and decreased cortisol in both sexes, leading to more confidence and less stress. A good presenter always takes into consideration the physical environment and relationship with the audience. If you awkwardly hide behind an overhead projector or refuse to get close to your audience, they will not develop a trusting relationship with you, and this will hinder the success of your presentation.
4. Add Audio/Visual Aids
Consider adding audio or visual aids to your presentation in order to increase audience interaction. This will improve comprehension of your points. Traditional presentations can be quite boring, but you can use multimedia such as PowerPoint slides, videos, and pictures to make your presentation more engaging.
In other words, they make your talk more interesting. Audiences will always respond better to presentations that make use of music or sound effects. After all, music is a powerful tool that can help evoke emotions and bond people together. Plus, it makes it easier for listeners to remember key ideas from the presentation.
5. Use Ice Breakers
Using icebreakers is a great way to engage your audience and make them feel comfortable. Breaking the ice will help everyone relax and be more receptive to what you have to say. There are many different ways to use icebreakers, so find one that works best for you and your audience.
You can start with a joke or funny story. Just make sure it’s appropriate for your audience and not too controversial. You can also ask your audience to introduce themselves to the person next to them. This is a great way to get everyone involved and help them feel comfortable speaking up when you ask them to.
6. Use Props
Although this might seem outdated, it can still grab your audience’s attention while also being entertaining. Including props in your presentation will enliven it and make your points more relatable. It is a more unique approach than the conventional ‘lecturing’ presentation style, where instead of reading bullet points off of the slide, you are actually engaging with your audience. Additionally, it lets them visualize what you are discussing.
A great example of this is when you’re presenting a medical case study. You might want to include a model of the human body or an organ that is relevant to your discussion. This will help those who are visual learners and make it easier for them to understand your presentation.
7. Get Personal
The audience wants to know that you’re a real person with real experiences, not just a talking head. When you open up and share personal stories or experiences, it humanizes you and makes you more relatable. It also helps the audience connect with you on a deeper level and feel invested in what you’re saying.
To do this, you can share stories about yourself, your work, or your life outside of work. Just make sure they are appropriate and don’t go too far from the main point of your presentation.
8. Replace Photos and Slides With Augmented Reality
AR is captivating, and it can make your event more memorable by giving attendees a three-dimensional view of the topics you’re discussing. Augmented reality is becoming increasingly popular and it’s a great way to add an element of fun to your live event. Although this idea may be difficult to implement due to budget and tech reasons, we’re still including it because it shows where presentations are headed in the future.
An example of how you could use AR in your presentation is by displaying a 3D image of your company’s product. This would be especially effective if you’re selling something that’s difficult to visualize, like software. You could also use AR to give attendees a virtual tour of your office or whatever location you’re discussing.
9. Pass Around the Presenter’s Spotlight
When you’re the only one speaking, it’s easy for people to tune out or zone out. You can overcome this by passing around the spotlight and giving other people a chance to speak. This is an excellent way to keep your audience engaged, and it allows them a brief respite from listening to you.
There are many different ways to do this. You can ask people to come up to the front and share their thoughts on the topic. Or, you could have a panel discussion where multiple people speak on the same topic. You can also ask people to share their thoughts and experiences in small groups and then have each group share with the larger audience.
10. Memes
Yes, we’re serious. Memes are a great way to engage with your audience, especially if you’re presenting to a younger crowd. It can have them laughing and engaged with your presentation. Just make sure that the memes you use are appropriate and somehow relatable to your topic.
The use of funny visuals will even drive conversations with their seatmates and stir up some interesting thoughts about the presentation itself. Ideas for this could be jokes about the topic, relatable experiences, or even pop culture references.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the many ways you can make your presentation more interactive. The important thing is to experiment and find what works best for you and your audience. And, as always, practice makes perfect. So don’t be afraid to try something new and out of the box. It just might be the thing that takes your presentation from good to great.
