Draw Them In: How Switching to a Whiteboard Amplifies Your Presentation's Impact

How the Whiteboard Sparks Live Dialogues in Presentations and Elevates Them from Mundane to Memorable

One thing that makes me stand out from 90% of presenters is that I love using whiteboards, and not only because my mom, dad, and I were former teachers. Using a board is one of the most effective tools to boost engagement and memorability in your presentations.

Unlike digital slides, a whiteboard breathes life into your words, sketches ideas in real time, and creates a canvas for interactive dialogue. It adapts to the narrative flow, making each session unique and memorable. Let's explore how this simple tool can transform your presentation into an engaging exchange. 

Complement Your Presentation

So, why do we use a whiteboard? A whiteboard is similar to a paperboard.

It's a tool that allows you to transition from your presentation slides to a more engaging format with the audience, making the discussion feel more immediate and memorable.

Here are a few of the impactful ways of using a whiteboard in a presentation.

1. Side Agenda

For example, you could jot down the focus of your presentation and a high-level agenda that you will cross after each section. Writing down information on the whiteboard creates a more memorable interaction as it provides a break from the regular slide transitions.

2. Your Ideas, Their Insights: Interactive Questioning

For instance, you might ask, "What do you think is the fastest car?" or "Which brands come to mind when you think of speed?" Responses like Ferrari, Tesla, and Porsche could come up that you would capture on the spot. This interactive element not only fosters attention but also fosters an interactive dialogue with the audience.

3. Do It Live: Calculations and Drawings on the Spot

You give your presentation a personalized "live" feel, more memorable than a prewritten slide deck. Think of it as the live concerts where the band is "improvising" a rif on the spot (in fact, usually a very well-planned and rehearsed one).

4. A Lasting Companion: Building Content Alongside Your Slides

Build and maintain content alongside your slides. 

Sometimes, you have a model, diagram, or pieces of information that you want to keep showing the audience while going through your slide deck.

5. Erasability: The Freedom to Adapt and Evolve

You might wonder, why opt for a whiteboard instead of a paperboard? A significant advantage of a whiteboard is its erasability. For instance, in a discussion about the speed of different car brands, you can easily erase and adjust the information on the board as the conversation progresses, identifying which brand is perceived as the fastest or slowest. This ability to modify content on the go makes the whiteboard a dynamic presentation tool.

Improvisation at Its Best

You do not have to always use a board in a planned manner; it is also a perfect tool for improvizing.

6. Capturing Questions and Exploring Answers

Furthermore, the use of a whiteboard facilitates on-the-spot improvisation. Especially when you are not on stage but in a meeting room where a whiteboard is readily available, it becomes a handy tool to capture questions from the audience during your presentation. 

If a question arises that you prefer to address later, you can note it down on the whiteboard. 

7. Providing Additional Content

Additionally, the whiteboard allows you to illustrate processes or concepts that may not be included in your slides, further enriching the interaction and reinforcing your expertise in the subject matter.

A Lasting Impression Using Whiteboards

The whiteboard, therefore, is not just a tool for jotting down ideas but a platform for enhancing interaction, engagement, and the memorability of your presentation. Thank you.

Do you have any questions or experience with using whiteboards in presentations? Leave a comment below!