Everything you need to know about mastering audience Q&A
Follow this guidance to determine how and when to field questions, as well as smart ways to handle tough queries.
Effective public speakers should put as much energy and attention into managing audience Q&A as they do their presentation.
The planning begins with a fundamental question: Are you going to conduct an audience Q&A?
Of course, you don’t have to take any questions. Not every presentation calls for them—such as a large keynote address. An audience Q&A introduces unpredictability, which can be an unnerving situation even for experienced speakers.
Still, the audience Q&A session can provide some of the more memorable and energetic moments of your presentation. If you manage your audience Q&A deftly and with care, you potentially gain valuable information:
Managing your audience Q&A is all about preparation.
Here are some tips for taking questions during your presentations, as well as guidance on how best to respond:
When to take questions
Early in your presentation, let the audience know how and when you plan to take questions. Here are a few ways to seek out those queries:
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