A ‘show of hands’ can be a great way to engage your audience.
However, it is not without risk.
I observed this a few weeks ago when a speaker asked people to vote on an issue by raising their hands.
Nobody responded.
Later in the speech, they tried again.
Same result.
The speaker made a few mistakes that weakened audience participation in presentations.
Let me explain how you can avoid the same errors.
How to Improve Audience Participation in Presentations
Firstly, explain the rules of the game
Before asking for commitment, make sure the audience understands:
- How many options there are?
- What are those options?
- Is voting mandatory?
- Can people vote more than once?
Make the ground rules crystal clear.
Secondly, sound like you mean it.
If there is even a hint of hesitation in your voice, response levels will collapse.
The audience senses uncertainty and holds back.
A confident tone gives people permission to participate.
Thirdly, use visual cues.
When asking for a show of hands, raise your own hand as well.
This gives the audience an immediate visual signal and removes uncertainty about what you want them to do.
If there’s a second option, raise the opposite hand.
My first words in this article were that a show of hands can be a great way to engage your audience.
Follow these principles:
Be clear.
Sound like you mean it.
Act like you mean it.
Strong audience participation in presentations usually starts with clarity and confidence from the speaker.
This way, a show of hands will become a great way to engage your audience.
For more helpful presentations tips, why not check out the following article on how a weak start can cost you your audience and how to prevent it.
