by Gilda Bonanno
Answering questions can be an important part of your presentation. And you must prepare for it with the same focus and intensity that you use to prepare the presentation itself.
·
Decide how you will take questions (raised
hand, submitted ahead of time on index cards, via social media, etc.).
Answering questions can be an important part of your presentation. And you must prepare for it with the same focus and intensity that you use to prepare the presentation itself.
·
Decide when you will handle the questions (in
the middle or near the end of your presentation, never at the end itself).
·
Decide how you will take questions (raised
hand, submitted ahead of time on index cards, via social media, etc.).
·
List out frequently-asked questions (FAQs) based
on your knowledge of the topic and your previous experience. You can also ask someone to listen to your practice
presentation and come up with questions.
·
Add to the list difficult questions you would
hate to have to answer.
·
Prepare a response to each question on your
list. Write it out or outline it or practice saying it out loud (not to
memorize it, but to get comfortable with the general answer, no matter how you
say it).
·
Prepare responses to 2 more types of
questions:
1. Those
you don’t have the answer to.
There may be questions you didn’t anticipate so you need
a stock response like, “That’s a good question.
In order to answer it fully, I’d need to consider it more carefully and
get back to you,” (don’t say this unless you intend to). Or you can simply respond, “I don’t have the
answer right now, but it is certainly something I have to consider.”
Otherwise in these situations, you may say, “um, ah…” and
undermine your credibility and confidence.
2. Those
you don’t want to answer.
There are times when you know the answer, but can’t share
it with the audience. For example, the pricing
that will not be revealed until the product is released, or the name of a new strategic
partner that is confidential until the final contract is signed. For these situations, prepare a response that
acknowledges the question and lets them know when the information will be
available in the future.
Otherwise, in these situations, you will sound evasive
and insincere.
Preparing for questions thoroughly will give you
confidence, show your respect for the audience and demonstrate your knowledge
of the topic.
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