Interacting with Large Audiences; How to Keep the Whole Ballroom Awake
Sometimes, in my train the trainer or presentation skills workshops, I receive a bit of push-back regarding my advocacy of frequent interaction with an audience.
Although the evidence is clear that interaction has multiple benefits (e.g., keeps people attentive, provides feedback to the presenter, enhances retention, etc.), some will suggest that this only works with small groups. What if, they say, I am dealing with a larger number…maybe 80, 100, 500 or more…maybe at a conference, a convention, or company-wide meeting. Clearly there is no way I can ask questions of a group that size.
Is this true? Must you revert to just talking and showing PowerPoint slides? Here are some strategies that work:
Low Tech Options:
1. The “Jerry Springer” Approach: Fearlessly walk down the aisles with a microphone and direct questions to individuals and tables. (This used to be called the Phil Donahue approach but only a few of us are old enough to remember…).
2. The Hand-Raise Approach: Directing closed-ended questions to the entire audience that typically call for a show of hands. The presenter “prompts” the response by raising his or her hand as the questions are asked. Different types include:
Questions calling for agreement or a conclusion (useful for building consensus and/or transitioning to the next topic). For example:
“Would it be reasonable, then, to conclude that it is critical to improve last quarter’s sales numbers? How many say yes?” (Show of hands).
“So, are we all generally in agreement that the new quality initiative needs to be actively supported at the supervisory level? How many would agree?” (Show of hands).
Questions calling for common experience. For example:
“So, how many of you have heard this objection?” (show of hands)
“Do any of your customers fit this description?” (show of hands)
3. Verbal multiple choice questions (polling) that cause the audience to speculate on the correct answer or share their feelings. For example:
“A recent economic forecast suggests that residential housing starts will increase next quarter. Let’s see if your feelings match the forecast…How many think they will increase by less than 5%? (show of hands). How many think between 5 and 10%? (show of hands). How about over 10%? (show of hands). Well some of you are exactly in line with the forecast, which said…”
3. Pair, triad, or table activities. For example: