In any presentation which you have to give, you must always expect to answer questions.
Do not fear answering questions because this gives you the opportunity to clarify your points made, strengthen your arguments and in the process enhance your credibility.
Here are 7 rules to keep in mind when dealing with questions: 1.
Make sure you tell the audience that they can ask questions at the end of the presentation.
This gives then the chance to think of what they want to ask during your talk 2.
Avoid telling them to interrupt you during the presentation.
If they do, they may interrupt your train of thought and your presentation may take longer them anticipated 3.
It is always difficult to ask the first question, so break the ice by saying something like: "I'm often asked..
", or "What did you think about (something you mentioned in your presentation)? Do you agree with that?" This will help jump start them and provide a starting point for you to emphasize what you said earlier 4.
When giving your answer, don't only talk to the person who asked the question but to the whole audience.
The others will then not feel excluded from the discussion 5.
If the question couldn't be heard by the entire audience, make sure everyone know what the question was by repeating it or putting it in your own words before you answer it 6.
Sometimes people will say something which isn't really a question at all.
It can be a statement of their opinion or reinforcement of something you said or even an attempt to look clever.
Do not panic or get flustered.
Thank them for making this point, reinstate your own argument, if necessary, and move on to the next question 7.
Don't try to bluff your way through a question you can't answer.
Tell them you can't answer it and you need to check with your sources.
You can say that you'll come back to them about it.
If you have to answer on the spot, it would be useful to have some back-up information handy to refer to.
Most presentations are accompanied by reports.
If you know that the answer is in the report you can tell the questioner so.
Do not fear answering questions because this gives you the opportunity to clarify your points made, strengthen your arguments and in the process enhance your credibility.
Here are 7 rules to keep in mind when dealing with questions: 1.
Make sure you tell the audience that they can ask questions at the end of the presentation.
This gives then the chance to think of what they want to ask during your talk 2.
Avoid telling them to interrupt you during the presentation.
If they do, they may interrupt your train of thought and your presentation may take longer them anticipated 3.
It is always difficult to ask the first question, so break the ice by saying something like: "I'm often asked..
", or "What did you think about (something you mentioned in your presentation)? Do you agree with that?" This will help jump start them and provide a starting point for you to emphasize what you said earlier 4.
When giving your answer, don't only talk to the person who asked the question but to the whole audience.
The others will then not feel excluded from the discussion 5.
If the question couldn't be heard by the entire audience, make sure everyone know what the question was by repeating it or putting it in your own words before you answer it 6.
Sometimes people will say something which isn't really a question at all.
It can be a statement of their opinion or reinforcement of something you said or even an attempt to look clever.
Do not panic or get flustered.
Thank them for making this point, reinstate your own argument, if necessary, and move on to the next question 7.
Don't try to bluff your way through a question you can't answer.
Tell them you can't answer it and you need to check with your sources.
You can say that you'll come back to them about it.
If you have to answer on the spot, it would be useful to have some back-up information handy to refer to.
Most presentations are accompanied by reports.
If you know that the answer is in the report you can tell the questioner so.