Turn Your Presentation Into a Conversation

Sometimes when you are presenting to win a project, you have the opportunity to make it an interactive presentation or conversation instead of a unilateral presentation. At Sage Presence, we recommend taking advantage of this opportunity whenever possible. By turning your presentation into something that feels more like a meeting or conversation, you can engage your audience more effectively. However, there are some situations where interactive presentations may not be possible, such as when presenting to a public decision-making body that needs to maintain the appearance of impartiality. In these cases, presenters might need to stick to a formal, non-interactive format. To make your interactive presentation successful, begin by ensuring that it will be a conversation. Instead of simply telling your audience to ask questions whenever they occur, ask them specific questions related to the presentation topic. For example, you could ask, “What challenges are you currently facing with this project?” and “What goals do you hope to achieve?” Be aware that asking these questions may make it seem like you haven’t done your research on the project or audience. To mitigate this risk, assure them that you have done your research and share your initial findings. Then, invite them to add anything that might be missing from your assessment. By asking open-ended, specific questions, you’ll encourage your audience to think critically about the challenges and goals related to the project. This approach is more engaging than simply inviting them to ask questions or presenting a yes-or-no question. Try incorporating these techniques into your next interactive presentation and see how it goes!