How to Perfectly Handle Audience’s Questions When Making a Presentation

If you want your presentation well received by the audience, take into account techniques to handle questions from them.

Firstly, you should be prepared for their questions. As you write your presentation, you need to think of what they may be going to ask and then find the answers for them. Perhaps you will not want to answer some particular questions there and then, so you should think about what you are going to speak to satisfy the questioners.

Secondly, you need to make it clear right at the beginning. You may decide whether to answer their questions right away or when you finish your presentation. Regardless of what you decide, you should make it clear right at the beginning and should not change your mind. However, experts suggest you to answer the questions when you finish your presentation; if you answer questions right after being asked, your timing can be knocked out. And keep in mind that your audience will not forgive you if you take an hour as you were scheduled to speak for only half an hour.

You should never finish your presentation with questions. Instead, ask for questions about 10 minutes before you finish it, answer them and summarize for a strong end.

As being asked a question, you should listen and just pretend to look like you are listening. Perhaps the question is something that you have heard so many times before. Treat the questioners with respect and never trivialize their point.

Thanking the questioner politely for asking questions can show respect, and at the same time gives you more time to think of your answer.

You should repeat the important question due to the fact that some may not have heard them so they may find your answer making little sense to them. In addition to that, it may be uncomfortable for them.

Answer to everyone instead of just one questioner. If someone asking a question happens to sit near the front, you may end up only having a conversation with him or her and then exclude everyone else.

As it comes to answering questions, many speakers can feel more relaxed. If there is a questioner who is interested enough to ask you a question, do not let him or her lead you to wasting too much time.

Last but not least, bluster or bluff. If you are not able to answer a question properly, just say so and then find it out later. You may ask the questioner for his/her phone number or address to phone him/her or personally come to see and answer him/her. It will be a really good way for you to make further contact after your presentation.

As we can see, there may be no question asked so you do not know what to do in such situations. They may actually be thinking of what you just said and need a little more time to think about a question. In addition, they may be a bit shy so it may take them a few more minutes to speak their questions out. It would be great if you say to them something like "You may be wondering…?" If still there is no question asked, just go straight into the summary.