How to Win Big with Tweets

One of my favorite ways to open a presentation is to show a novel prop and ask participants to talk with someone nearby about it. This simple strategy activates their prior knowledge, fires up their neural networks and adds a touch of creative intrigue.
 
Recently, I presented for the Association for Talent Development International Conference and decided to add a Twitter twist. Here’s what I did (and you can do, too!)
 

1. I held up a roll of toilet paper (you can use anything) and asked everyone to think about what it had to do with training and talent development.
2. Then I gave them two minutes to tweet their answers, using my handle @annebeninghof.
3. I opened up my Twitter feed on the screen and read each submission aloud.
4. The entries got the audience laughing, making connections and cheering for their colleagues’ ideas.
5. I awarded a copy of my book, Caffeinated Learning, to the person whose tweet received the loudest response from the group.

 
There were several big wins here:

• Immediate audience engagement
• Humor and laughter = endorphins
• Sparked creative thinking
• Boosted my brand on Twitter
• No prep strategy
• One audience member won my book

 
Here are a few of the tweeted answers for your enjoyment.