Brilliant Tips for Handling Audience Questions
“Are there any questions?”
Are you the type of speaker who utters this phrase and then secretly HOPES like heck there are no questions, so you can bugger off the stage and consider the presentation D-O-N-E?
Or do you love Q&A because you get to interact with the audience? Do you relish the chance to speak-off-the-cuff and hear what your audience has to say?
Whether you love Q&A like peanut butter love chocolate or dread it like a 5-year old dreads eating vegetables, the truth is question and answers sessions can be tough for even the most seasoned speakers.
Luckily, my friend and fellow speech coach, Rich Hopkins, has put together an amazingly comprehensive guide to Q&A sessions. You'll command the room and breeze through the Q&A session thanks to this post.
Audience Interaction is Easier than You Think – Part 3 – Q&A
But wait there is more! You'll notice that Q&A is part 3 of this series. If you really want to engage and not just speak to audience read:
Audience Interaction is Easier Than you Think – Part 1
Part 1 focuses on how to get the audience to participate in presentations not just the Q&A. If you think it's difficult to get on stage and give a presentation, it's even more difficult for an audience member to get out of their chair and ask something.
Audience Interaction is Easier than You Think – Part 2 – Inter-Audience Interaction
Warm the audience up by having them talk to each other. The point is in order to get them to talk to you during a presentation ease them into it by having them talk to each other!
Remember, audience don't just want to be yakked at – they crave interaction and to be included in a presentation. Give into their desire and turn speaking into interaction.
Book Update: Speak Up For Your Business is going to the copy editor November, 1st. Huzzah. New content coming soon.
