Presentations are an important means of formal communications. They are most commonly delivered for educational and business purposes. For example, most lectures are primarily presentations. Presentations of policy, plans, new developments and outcomes to groups in business and in the public sector are commonplace.
A presenter usually employs visual aids in support of what he says to his audience. Computer programs, like PowerPoint™, have enabled presenters, who do not have a particularly high level of graphic skills, to produce professional and telling illustrative props. The presenter aims to convey maximum understanding of his subject and to make it memorable so that the messages he delivers can put into practice outside of the conference or classroom.
Too often presenters act as though they are the stars of "telling" only shows. The theatre of the conference room undoubtedly heightens expectation and interest. All too frequently, the net result of several successive, passively delivered presentations is complete brain overload. "Death By PowerPoint™" Delegates have no way of exercising their minds interactively in this one-way environment and come out remembering very little. They are simply unable to cope with the buckets of knowledge that have been poured over them.
Questions are vital but underused tools in the presenter's armoury. If you have to give presentations, you should use relevant questions to gain the audience's attention, to create & checking understanding and to make the important messages more memorable.
What are the real powers that questions give to the presenter?
You more easily gain attention, participation and understanding
You are better able to evaluate the success of the presentation
The increasing availability of technology like the "Interactive Presenter™" makes the use of questions in presentations much more dramatic and successful. The hyperlinks in this section of the Question Culture website will tell you why!
Peak Performance and Dolphin Interactive have made a video on using questions with the Interactive Presenter™. If you would like a copy of the video on CD, let us know.