But is it? Really?
You’ve seen that in a session description, I bet. It’s ‘interactive.’ But is it really? What does that even mean?
Merriam Webster defines the word INTERACTIVE as mutually or reciprocally active, or
involving the actions or input of a user.
So, when someone describes a presentation or keynote speech as ‘interactive’ what do they mean?
The hard part here is that there isn’t one answer that will fit every situation.
I can tell you that I’ve described many sessions over the years as ‘interactive’ and I can tell you that it has meant different things depending on the topic, the size of the audience, the venue, and a dozen other things.
And while you may think it is the speaker’s responsibility to figure out the interactivity, you are the one who knows your audience best so it’s you that needs to set the expectations for what kind of interactivity you expect because not all speakers have the same definition of interaction.
Some speakers consider it to be interactive if they ask the audience some questions.
You’ve probably been in one of those sessions. Perhaps the speaker starts by asking who is enjoying the conference so far. Those who are enjoying it raise their hand in response to the question. Interactivity.
Maybe the presenter asks if there is anyone in the audience who has experienced _____<insert some situation related to the session’s topic>___. Interactivity.
Some presenters will walk out into the audience forcing those audience members who are engaged to ‘follow’ him or her around the room. Interactivity.
It can be a handout, exercise, group or individual activity, a video that prompts discussion, a puzzle to figure out…. all of these are types of interactivity.
There are some speakers who consider it to be interactive if they can get the audience to laugh out loud, or clap at a particular point. Or if they ask for a volunteer or two to come up front to help demonstrate something. Interac… well you get the picture.
It’s less about what the speaker thinks interactivity is and more about what YOU need and want for the audience. It’s all about the desired outcome of the session.
Do you simply want your audience to come away uplifted? Or is there more to it? Do you want them to take away actionable nuggets that will improve their day-to-day world? Do you hope the session will aid in thinking about something differently? Or do you want to change their perspective? Do you want Ah-ha moments?
When considering a speaker option for a seminar, webinar, or keynote, consider your expectations carefully and ask lots of questions. If you expect the facilitator to get your audience up out of their seats, tell them that. If you think the audience will only stay engaged if some of their co-workers go up front for an exercise, say that. TELL the speaker contenders what level of interactivity you want.
Many of them won’t ask so you if you don’t tell them what you expect, they may say the session will be ‘interactive’ but you won’t really know what they mean by that until the session is happening and then it’s took late to adjust.
When thinking about the level of interactivity you want for the session you are planning, here are few things to consider.
- How big will the audience be and how long is the session? There won’t be time for multiple interactive components if you have hundreds of attendees in a 50-minute session. For larger groups in break-out sessions or short keynote sessions, be realistic as to how much interactivity can happen and still convey the message you are asking for.
- Who is the audience? If you have a room full of tax accountants that are used to working along behind closed doors, too much interactivity will make them uncomfortable. And while you may want to get them out of their comfort zone (because let’s face it, that’s where the real growth happens), if they are too uncomfortable, they will check out and not gain the impact you are trying to provide for them in the session. If you have a group of sales associates, they will likely be bored silly if they are made to sit and listen to an hour lecture with no interactivity at all. They are going to need something to keep them engaged.
- What is the activity or demonstration? If the presenter has a demonstration planned, understand enough about it to know if it will be impactful for your audience. The last thing your audience wants is to have to watch the same demonstration they’ve seen before. I’ll confess, I’ve neglected to consider this point in the past and conducted a demonstration to a large group of managers who had done the demonstration before, and it simply fell flat. It caused my timing to be way off, and the audience didn’t get the positive experience I had promised. ☹
- Does the activity appeal to all audience members? In diverse audiences, the biggest challenge is finding interactivity that will impact everyone. While there is always a person or two (or 3 in larger groups) that won’t appreciate the outcome of the demonstration or exercise, it has to be relevant to the majority. If you have a room full of tech folks and HR employees, and your topic is emotional intelligence, the examples used in an exercise will have to be carefully crafted to speak to both groups.
As you likely already know, finding the right speaker to present on the right topic, while including the more appropriate interactivity is hard. And the last thing you want is a room full of empty chairs. Or worse yet, chairs filled with napping audience members!
It can seem impossible. I promise you it’s NOT!
But…..
It’s one reason that a pre-developed, boxed presentation may not be the right solution for you. It’s one of the many reasons every single presentation I do it developed for you and your specific needs, taking into consideration your audience, your goals, and the company vision and values. And it’s one of the reasons that we will have an in-depth conversation before I book an event. If I don’t think I am the best fit for your goals and your audience, I’ll tell you that and then I’ll help you find someone who is. Because you deserve the best option for your group! Always!