Every group you’ll present to will be different, and you may be in a presentation where the audience is uninvolved. The adults you’re speaking to have probably had long days at work or home or may be preoccupied with other things going on in their personal or professional lives. Or they just may be hesitant to speak up.

To help get these learners involved, try:

Sharing a personal experience: They may warm up to you and feel more comfortable speaking up if they know more about you and how your experience relates to the subject matter.

Asking for input directly: If no one responds to a question, directly call on an audience member.

Answer your own questions: If you’re still having trouble getting responses, provide the answers, and move on.