Join us on December 19th for PowerSpeaking Live! Smart Communication: Harnessing Al's Power
REGISTER NOW

​PowerSpeaking Blog: Tips and strategies for crafting presentations!

Q&A Sessions: Your Chance to Shine

by PowerSpeaking, Inc.     May 7, 2020 8:22:39 AM

How you handle a question-and-answer session during or after a presentation can boost your credibility and reinforce your message—or not.  We have techniques to help.

Listen to Master Facilitator Sarah Palmer talk about two common mistakes presenters make when trying to address questions:

 

 

Our best tips for making the Q&A productive:

Be prepared.  If you’ve mastered your data and message, and you take the time to anticipate questions (and your answers) ahead of time, you’ll be better prepared to ace a Q&A session.  Practice not only your presentation, but your answers to questions.

Be respectful.  Your attitude and comportment during a Q&A session often says as much as your actual answers to questions.  People can feel whether you genuinely care that they understand your message and/or data.  So, listen deeply to questions—and sometimes, the question behind the question—make eye contact, and know that most people who bother to ask a question sincerely want more information or clarification. 

Acknowledge, then confirm you answered the question.  Another way to show respect and build trust is to acknowledge that you heard and understand the question.  Simply paraphrasing the question accurately can accomplish that, but you can take it one step further by showing that you understand the larger concern or context.  For example, if you’re proposing a new department initiative and someone asks, “How can we take on a major program when we’re already stretched, resource-wise?”, your response could be, “I understand your concern about workload, especially since the company recently cut staff and budgets.”  After you answer the question, take a moment to ask, “Have I addressed your concern, and do you see how this can work?” 

Give brief, incisive answers.   No matter how complex or technical your presentation, the Q&A session is not typically the place to deliver a master’s thesis answer.  Give direct, concise answers, and if needed, offer to discuss the details later, in another setting.

Be honest and open.  People can sense if you’re fudging or trying to bluff your way through an answer.  Just be truthful, and if you don’t know the answer, say so, and offer to get back to them.  Also, don’t hesitate to pause if you need a moment to think about a question.  

Don’t let awkward or hostile questions throw you off.  No matter how irrelevant or hostile the question is, don’t take it personally, and don’t get defensive.  If you can find something of value and relevance to your main message in the question, briefly make the connection and move on.  If the questioner continues to press or argue, say, “Let’s talk about this further after the meeting.”

Master these Q&A session techniques and you’ll never have to dread them again.

On the journey with you,

Carrie Beckstrom
CEO 

 

Join Us in Conversation . . .

ps-live-logo

Smart Communication: Harnessing AI's Power

Thursday, December 19, 2024, 9-10:00 a.m. PT/12-1:00 p.m. ET/5-6:00 p.m. BST

Join CEO Carrie Beckstrom and her expert panelists as they share insights and best practices for using generative AI in a wide range of business and educational applications. They'll highlight how you can benefit by leveraging AI in your communications, while at the same time, ensuring an authentic, inclusive end product.

Register Now

Avron Barr

Avron Barr

Consultant, Aldo Ventures, Inc.

Aimee Escalante

Aimee Escalante

Lecturer, CSU Monterey Bay

Lucas Petty

Lucas Petty

Founder, Al Daddy

George Station

George Station

Lecturer, CSU Monterey Bay

About the Author

PowerSpeaking, Inc.

Topics: Speech Clarity, Career Advancement, Speaking to Executives, Presentation Skills, Virtual Presentation, Leadership Development, Executive Presentations, Confident Speaking, Conference Speaking, Technical Presentations, Speaking Skills, Presentation Training, Public Speaking Training, Executive Coaching, Corporate Communication, Keynote Speaking, Microlearning, Persuasiveness, Virtual Training, Online Meeting, speaker training

Don’t Miss Out on Insights!

Subscribe to PowerSpeaking Insights to get our blog, best-practice tips, special offers, and more sent directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe to PowerSpeaking Insights

ps-live-dec-24-cta

 

Recent Posts

Popular Posts