A couple of months ago, I published a series of exercises you could follow to improve your presentation skills.
This time around, I will focus solely on one aspect of presentations that often goes overlooked – interaction.
Why Is Interaction Important In A Presentation?
We’ve all been there.
You’re sitting in a conference room, listening to a keynote presentation. You’re extremely interested in the topic, yet you’re struggling to follow along as the speaker delivers each slide. After it finishes, you quickly forget the contents and key takeaways.
From the other side of the mic, presenters are acutely aware of audience engagement ebbing and flowing throughout.
It’s not anyone’s fault, in particular. Simply, it’s incredibly hard for humans to sit, passively listen, and then absorb and retain information.
Our brains are the biggest culprit. For one, they have a limited capacity for processing information. And, to help our hunter-gatherer ancestors survive a world of constant threats, they’re hardwired to be easily distracted.
The answer to the limitations of the brain is engagement through interaction. Why?
- Engaged audiences are more likely to retain information.
- Interaction creates a better experience for everyone – no one likes feeling like they’re back in the classroom.
- Interaction turns passive listening into active participation.
So, where does interaction fit into the presentation skillset?
Well, think of it this way: the exercises I’ve shared previously will develop your core presentation skills, boosting your confidence and clarity. Interaction, however, is the magic fairy dust that makes your content stick.
5 Ways To Make Your Presentation More Interactive
Let’s take a look at a few options for adding interactive elements to a presentation.
Run An Audience Poll
When it comes to interaction, there’s nothing like a ‘show of hands’. It’s quick and simple.
It also works at any time, but I find it’s most effective as a means of performing a mass icebreaker at the start of a presentation. This way, you wake everyone up, get them thinking, and introduce the topic in a novel way.
Naturally, you want to tie the poll question to a key narrative in your presentation, but there are bonus points if you can deliver it in a way that generates a humorous outcome (laughter immediately breaks any tension, relaxing both the speaker and audience).
Add An Interactive Quiz
Short, interactive quizzes engage audiences by tapping into our competitive spirit. Unlike polling, which gauges opinions, quizzes actively test knowledge. They’re a brilliant way to challenge assumptions, reinforce key points, and significantly boost long-term retention of information.
Practically, there are several platforms you can use to embed a quiz in your slides and display the results in real-time.
As for when to use them, I recommend either halfway through to reinforce core concepts or at the end to leave a lasting impression.
Try Gamification
Gamification introduces elements of gameplay – like competition, scoring, and rewards – into new environments. In the context of a presentation, this can instantly increase engagement, with studies showing that gamification techniques can lighten the cognitive load.
Quizzes, as discussed above, are one form of gamification. But there are plenty of other forms: puzzles, challenges, scavenger hunts, and even time-honoured classics like the telephone game.
The key is to offer rewards – leaderboards, badges, or points can quickly convert passive listeners into enthusiastic participants.
Pose A Scenario
Passively absorbing information is tough. But using the information you’ve just presented to solve a problem or debate a course of action?
That’s much more impactful.
Scenario-based discussions are fantastic for creating deep and meaningful interactions. They’re super easy, too. All you need to do is put forward a realistic situation and ask, “What would you do?”.
Your audience could break into small groups to discuss and provide feedback, or they could simply raise their hands and shout out answers.
You could even add key gamification elements. For example, for each answer submitted by the audience, put it up on the screen and then have a system for up or downvoting suggestions – the most popular answer wins a prize!
Get People Moving
I can’t sit still for long. The same goes for most people.
It’s far too easy to lose focus or, worse, get uncomfortable. This is where adding a touch of physical movement to your presentation can quickly refresh a fading audience.
While it sounds silly, physical activity has a dramatic impact on focus, energy levels, and retention.
Quick exercises and stretching break the monotony of sitting and listening. You’re not asking attendees to run a 5k – a brief stand and stretch halfway through, or asking people to reposition themselves based on their opinion on a topic, can do the job.
Courses To Improve Your Presentation Skills
Interactive presentations are powerful, but it takes practice, guidance and confidence to deliver them effectively. While individual effort is valuable, professional training accelerates your growth, helping you deliver consistently.
That’s where we can help.
At Powercall, we offer tailored presentation skills courses designed to improve all presenters, whether you’re a beginner looking to build confidence or an experienced speaker aiming to refine your skills.
Presentation Skills Course
Our Presentation Skills Course covers all aspects of effective presenting, including interaction techniques. Delivered at our public training centre in London or your office as a bespoke workshop, we help you captivate your audience and convey your message with clarity and confidence.
- Length: 1-Day
- Best For: Professionals of all levels who regularly deliver (or wish to deliver) presentations in-person
Virtual Presentation Skills Course
Presenting online requires a distinct approach. Our Virtual Presentation Skills Course ensures you master interactive techniques for webinars and remote presentations. Attend this course at our London training centre, your offices, or via remote video call.
- Length: 1-Day
- Best For: Professionals of all levels who regularly deliver (or wish to deliver) virtual presentations
