There are many ways to organize and deliver inputs. If an input comes in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, time is the deal. The input has to be delivered within the agreed time followed by at least the double of time for participants to reflect and discuss.

In many workshops inputs are delivered as PowerPoint presentations. Often the timing is not adhered to and at the end there is only time for a short Q&A. As facilitator this is not a nice moment.

No speech was ever too short

As workshop facilitator I want to see more than Q&A. I want to see the audience in discussion with each other digesting the presentation, bringing in their observations, referring to their experiences, helping each other formulating and reformulating their questions and insights. 

And here comes my deal with the workshop organizers, the speaker and the participants: Stick to your time!

presentation time is the deal

Drawing: Space for participants’ inclusion; inspired by the David Gurteen “formula”: FROM presentation + no time for Q&A TO presentation + reflection + conversation + Q&A

For me the essential is what we do jointly after a presentation. A good way forward to kick off the discussion is the 1-2-4-all method. I cannot explain it better than Liberating Structures: http://www.liberatingstructures.com/1-1-2-4-all/

As a workshop facilitator, what’s your deal with PowerPoint presentations to make sure there is time and space for participants to engage?

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