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Mid-Presentation Adaptation

• To effectively adapt to your audience during a
presentation:
− Deliver your well-prepared presentation
− Correctly interpret the feedback you receive from your
audience
− Successfully adapt your presentation on the basis of
your interpretation
• Expect the unexpected
− Adjust to negative feedback
− Decide how to deal with unexpected guests
− Offer more explanation when needed
• Let the audience help you
− Ask comprehension questions to check for audience
understanding
− Adjust your speech according to the audience’s facial
expressions and body language
− Cut your presentation short by summarizing points if
your audience begins to look restless
• Always put your listeners first

Isa Engleberg and John Daly. Presentations In Everyday Life. Houghton-Mifflin (2005).
UNCG University Speaking Center, 256-1346, speakingcenter.uncg.edu