The document outlines 7 simple strategies for engaging any audience when presenting: 1) Know the audience by asking about their interests and needs; 2) Appreciate the audience and tell them so; 3) Ask questions of the audience; 4) Be human, approachable, and vulnerable by admitting mistakes; 5) Offer additional resources for further learning; 6) Get the audience learning from each other through group activities; 7) Challenge the audience's thinking. The strategies are designed to engage the audience and make them active participants rather than passive listeners.

1. 7 Simple Strategies
BY SHEILA B ROBINSON
To Engage Any Audience

2. Why do presenters present?
To teach

3. Why do presenters present?
To share information

4. Why do presenters present?
To tell stories

5. Why do presenters present?
To share results

6. Why do presenters present?
To share ideas

7. Successful presenters…
Engage their audiences

8. Unsuccessful presenters…
Mmmm…not so much

9. So, how do you get…
…this audience
…and not this one?

10. Strategy #1
Know them

11. HOW?

12. Strategy #1
Ask those who invited you
about them.

13. Strategy #1
Administer a survey or
pre-assessment to them.

14. Strategy #1
What are their interests,
experiences, skills,
knowledge, or learning
needs?

15. Strategy #1
Knowing this can inform
thoughtful design of both
content and audience
engagement strategies.

16. Strategy #2
Appreciate them

17. HOW?

18. Strategy #2
Tell them!

19. Strategy #2
Tell them how much you
appreciate their time,
attention, and
participation.

20. Strategy #3
Ask questions

21. HOW?

22. Strategy #3
Ask them to raise their
hands in response to a
question to the group.

23. Strategy #3
Even rhetorical questions
can engage an audience
when you have little
opportunity for interaction,
right?

24. Strategy #4
Be human, approachable,
and vulnerable

25. HOW?

26. Strategy #4
If you make a mistake,
admit it.

27. Strategy #4
Laugh at yourself.

28. Strategy #4
Be honest!

29. Strategy #4
Tell them that you don’t
know everything about
your topic and that you are
still a learner.

30. Strategy #4
Tell them how you thought,
behaved, or worked prior
to learning what you’re
now sharing with them.

31. Strategy #5
Offer resources

32. HOW?

33. Strategy #5
Show them opportunities
for further reading,
continued learning, tools &
other resources relevant to
their work.

34. Strategy #5
If you have a website or
blog, develop a portion of
it with links to relevant
resources.

35. Strategy #5
Invite them to connect
after the presentation
(through social media,
email, etc.) to ask
additional questions.

36. Strategy #6
Get them learning from
each other

37. HOW?

38. Strategy #6
Encourage them to
collaborate with you and
educate their co-learners.

39. HOW?

40. Strategy #6
Turn and talk: Give them
something to talk about
with a “next-door”
seatmate.

41. Strategy #6
Think-pair-share: Ask
them to think about a topic,
exchange ideas with a
partner, then share their
ideas with the large group.

42. Strategy #6
Use technology: Have
them use internet-connected
devices to answer questions.
Try Poll Everywhere and you
can project results on the
screen in real time.

43. Strategy #6
Use activity protocols:
See the National School
Reform Faculty’s array of
protocols appropriate for
adult audiences.

44. Strategy #7
Challenge them

45. HOW?

46. Strategy #7
Challenge their thinking
and current understanding
of your topic.

47. Strategy #7
Induce cognitive
dissonance.

48. Strategy #7
It’s not just about
presenting new
information, but about
challenging their beliefs or
understanding …

49. Strategy #7
…and supporting them in
making connections from
your new information to
their existing understanding.

50. Strategy #7
Challenge them to reach a
goal during your
presentation –

51. Strategy #7
– to add two more of
something to their list,
toolbox, repertoire, etc.

52. LET’S
REVIEW

53. 7 Simple Strategies
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
Know them
Appreciate them
Ask questions
Be human, approachable, &
vulnerable
Offer resources
Get them learning from each
other
Challenge them
To Engage Any Audience

54. Read the article: presentationmagazine.com
• Seven Simple Strategies to
Engage Any Audience

55. IMAGE CREDITS
buist bunch
Dbduo Photography
ohsohappytogether
normalityrelief
Alessandro Inna
Anirudh Koul
xenobia joy
TheGiantVermin
Steve Rhodes
colemama
Moyen_Brenn
gfpack
earthkath
rachel sian
lewishamdreamer
Via Flickr.com

56. Thank you!
Sheila B Robinson