Engage Your Audience
Successful PowerPoint presentations aren’t just about how well you create and deliver your slide shows. How you present the information and engage your audience makes the difference between an interactive and an unsuccessful presentation.
Lead your audience. Help them focus on the message of your presentation, not on you as the presenter. How can you create and deliver presentations that engage your audience? Consider the PEER method when presenting: Pace, Emphasis, Eye Contact, Relax.
PEER: 4 Easy Steps
- Pace: Adding vocal variety and a natural variation to your speaking pace will help keep your audience more engaged. For most of your presentation, maintain a moderate pace. Speaking too fast will exhaust your audience, and speaking too slowly may put them to sleep. However, more technical topics may require a slower pace or pauses. Also, be prepared to adjust for language differences.
- Emphasis: Pause for emphasis. As you present, use a brief pause to emphasize your points. The pause you take will give your audience time to absorb your message.
- Eye Contact: Try looking at individuals rather than scanning the group. Address your audience. Always face your audience while speaking. One sure way to lose an audience is to turn your back on them. Move away from the podium to connect with your audience. If at all possible get closer to your audience by moving away from or in front of the podium. If you are speaking from a lectern or desk, resist the temptation to lean on it. Stand tall and make eye contact.
- Relax: Be enthusiastic and passionate! Convey that tone to the audience. When you speak, stop moving. Avoid fast movement, pacing, or rushed talking because your audience will be drawn to your movements and miss the point.
Additionally, look for opportunities to build in interaction or exercises that help your audience engage with each other and your content.
Were these PowerPoint presentation tips helpful? Discover more PowerPoint techniques and shortcuts here.
© Dawn Bjork, MCT, MOSM, CSP®, The Software Pro®
Microsoft Certified Trainer, Productivity Speaker, Certified Speaking Professional
