You, in the audience . . .

Most presentations and meetings could be better.

To solve this problem, we focus on the speaker; how can they better serve the needs of the audience? But audiences have a responsibility too. Are you:

Distracted? It is unnerving to try and connect to colleagues when they’re not even pretending to pay attention. Decide whether you really need to be there. If you do, then show up on time and turn off your electronic devices. Be present.

Typing away? If you want to take notes, how critical is the laptop? If someone is assigned the role of “capture” to take notes, so be it. But if everyone is furiously “taking notes” by typing, we’re replicating a college lecture format. The audience passively receives information. You’re missing out. Without following cues of body language and eye contact, it’s difficult to know when to jump in and exchange ideas. . .which is kind of the point of having more than one person in an organization.

Giving them feedback? We’re not worried about immediately after (although it is nice to get a “good job”  acknowledgement, if earned). Follow-up a few days later – if it can wait – to let them know what resonated, or what was confusing. The speaker will have had time to recover and will be in a better place to have a more thoughtful discussion about their performance.

The universe will pay it forward when it’s your turn.

 

Portico’s 300 Words of Presentation Wisdom