4 Expert Ways to Engage Your Audience

When I asked our Engaging Speakers Members what topics they would like to learn about, learning how to engage an audience was one of their suggestions. Let’s explore some different techniques to do just that.

1) If you have control of the room set-up, you can ask the event planner to set the room up in smaller groups of people. Then you can tell the audience that based on the content that you deliver, that they will be called to discuss it with their small group members and give feedback. That does several things:
A) It insures that they will pay attention to what you are saying.
B) The small group will focus and engage with the content, with each
other on an emotional level.
C) It gives you powerful audience feedback – data from a random
sample.
D) You get to divert the attention from you to others, in order to take a
breath or review your notes.

2) Do an audience poll. Ask the audience a question that will elicit an answer from them relating to your content. It should be as inclusive as possible. May start by asking everyone to stand up (good idea after they have been sitting for a while…average attention span is 10 minutes). Then ask your question (i.e. If you have visited a foreign country, please remain standing. Those who have visited 1- 4 foreign countries, please remain standing. Those who have visited 5-9 foreign countries…). This will not only give you data on your audience, but it will get them up and moving and getting the blood flow to their brain, so they can listen and retain your content.

3) Pair them up. Presenters often pair up audience with a partner, so they can practice a technique from the presenter’s content to put into practice immediately, so it’s easily retained. In sales training presentation, one would be the prospect and the other would be the sales rep and they practice their pitch and then switch roles. This technique is very engaging for the audience. The audience takes over and owns the content and the presenter gets a break.

4) Make experiences, not speeches. Though people process information in different ways, creating a memorable experience will allow most audience members to participate and engage in it. Show first, tell later. Seeing you do what you are calling others to take action on, will go much further than just telling them. Give them little prizes and recognition if they are able to share one of the points in your presentation. Stay upbeat and energetic. Make it fun and make it memorable.

If you have suggestions or examples of other ways to engage an audience that have been successful for you, please share them with us. “A rising tide lifts all boats”

Gail Brown, Founder of Engaging Speakers, gail@engagingspeakers.com