Without meaningful audience participation during a meeting, it's tough to prove your attendees are getting value from a session. In today's economy, your need to show ROA (Return on Attendance) from a meeting is higher than ever - and that makes interactivity during your sessions all the more critical.

Interactivity can be as elaborate as team projects or as simple as giving participants ample opportunities to ask questions that, by their very nature, customize the session material. Small-group activities, brainstorming, and mini case studies are all ways to engage attendees while deepening the learning. Use your speakers as a resource. Quiz them on the techniques they've used to heighten ROA.

Asking yourself and your presenters the following three questions will ensure an interactivity-friendly planning approach for your next meeting.

1. Have I created an environment that is conducive to activities or question-and-answer segments during this meeting? People who do things need more space than people who just sit and listen. (They're actually learning more, too, but that's a whole other article.) Chairs that can be moved, tables to work on, flip charts for small groups - all these items might be necessary if your participants are engaging in activities. Even a simple Q&A session will require that the lights get turned up and traveling microphones are available. Discussing these needs with your presenter beforehand and arranging for them to be set up in the room is easy. Scrambling to make them happen an hour before the session is scheduled to begin is a nightmare.

2. Have I explained to my presenter(s) that I expect them to include audience involvement during their session? Most presenters - especially professional speakers who have been asked to do a breakout session - will understand the need to engage attendees in their presentation. Those who see their role as a lecturer might not - in which case, you might want to reconsider your choice of presenter. Contrary to some widely held beliefs, even a keynote can include a well-crafted activity and/or a meaningful, well-managed Q&A segment.

3. Are my attendees used to participating during our meetings? People who have been attending meetings for years have been conditioned to behave a certain way. If you haven't provided opportunities for participation from your attendees in the past, they might long for the good old days when all they had to do was show up, shut up, and sit up. So don't be surprised if they complain about that "audience participation stuff" on the evaluations. Even Q&As can be tricky. When the presenter asks if anyone has a question, an uncomfortable silence might follow. A well-prepared presenter knows how to handle the silence graciously as well as how to employ techniques that encourage the participation you both want. For example, s/he might say, "One of the questions I'm frequently asked is..." to get the ball rolling.

Take Away

One more suggestion: Ask your keynoters to take the ideas that they presented during their main stage presentation to a breakout session - where they can explore real-world application and practice with participants. Most presenters will relish the opportunity to spend more time covering their material in a way that a traditional keynote doesn't allow.

These tips should be used for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice.

Chris Clarke-Epstein, CSP, is a student of words (both spoken and written), a lover of storytelling (both true and slightly stretched), and a master of changes (both big and small). She is a past president of NSA and an award-winning speaker, trainer, and author. She can be reached at Chris@Change101.com.

The National Speakers Association (NSA) is the leading educational organization for professional speakers. NSA's 3,500 members include experts in a variety of industries and disciplines, who reach audiences as trainers, educators, humorists, motivators, consultants, authors, and more. As a service to meeting professionals, NSA provides resources and information on finding and working with speakers. Visit NSA's Web site at www.nsaspeaker.org.