NEVER STOP LEARNING No More Boring Lectures.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(IBD'S 10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS)

Byline: Robin Grugal

4 To truly engage an audience and have people retain what you say, tailor that presentation to the way people learn.

Breaking from the usual lecture format and sneaking in some participatory breathers along the way is one sure method, says Tony Jeary, presentation expert and author of "Life Is a Series of Presentations."

Think back to classes you've taken in school or professional training sessions/seminars you've attended, he says. If ever you've struggled to stay awake or found it difficult to focus, chances are it wasn't the material, but the delivery. The presenter could've been far more effective if he or she came up with creative ways to involve the audience, turning passive listeners into engaged participants and learners.

Consider these retention statistics, Jeary says: The average adult retains 20% of what he or she hears, 30% of what he or she sees, 50% of what he or she hears and sees, 70% of what he or she says, and 90% of what he or she says and does. With this in mind, a presenter can do much to improve his or her effectiveness with an audience.

Jeary offers these suggestions to engage audiences:

** Conduct a game or quiz. When Jeary gives a seminar, he often includes a printed quiz for audience members to fill out early on in the presentation. He mixes in a few joke answers to get their attention. Later, he has audience members self-grade their quizzes as he explains the correct answers.