Tip 31: Decide the best level of audience participation?

In many circumstances, you will simply not have the freedom to decide on the level of audience participation in your presentation. However, if you are given any freedom in this matter, make sure you take full advantage of it. You are the one who will be in charge of your presentation, so you should be the one who decides on the most appropriate level of audience participation in the light of your aims & objectives and your knowledge of your audience and their learning needs.

Are you going to lecture or discuss? Will it be interactive or didactic? What aids will you use? Will members of your audience be silent recipients or will they contribute when asked or are they the main participants in your presentation?

Even if you are giving a didactic talk, this does not mean that you do not connect with your audience. If you follow the tips in this book you can still make it the most engaging presentation. Lack of participation does not necessarily mean no interaction at all.

"Wow! This guide and handbook made a huge difference to my delegates at my online workshop. They loved everything we did. Thanks to Dr Mandar Marathe's book I developed my presentation skills quickly whilst enjoying all the new concepts and ideas this book offers in a very easy to read and practical manner.
 
All professional speakers, trainers and sales people should get a copy of this book!"
- Ash Ali, Online Marketing Expert & Founder of Sandalstore.co.uk

Table of contents
(Click to view sample pages from the book)

Introduction
About the author
How to use this book
Who needs this book?
Chapter 1: Planning for your presentation
Chapter 2: Preparing the delivery
Chapter 3: Preparing effective PowerPoint® slides
Chapter 4: Preparing a handout
Chapter 5: Rehearsals
Chapter 6: Just before the presentation
Chapter 7: Last-minute tips for confidence
Chapter 8: Delivering the presentation
Chapter 9: 'Any questions?'
Chapter 10: After the presentation
Chapter 11: Final Thoughts

About the author

Dr Mandar Marathe graduated from Southampton University with an honours degree in Biomedical Sciences in 1998 and a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1999. He holds advanced qualifications in Emergency Medicine and in Toxicology.

He juggles a career as a doctor working in Accident & Emergency, while raising three children with his wife, writing books, and endlessly surfing the internet looking for the next "big thing".

With almost two decades of public speaking experience in both academic and professional arenas, he is today an enthusiastic and popular educator who is well qualified to share his ideas about what makes a successful speaker and a powerful presentation.

Dr Mandar Marathe is the course director for the FCEM Course.