How to answer questions from the audience
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2025 9:16 am
Learning to communicate after a public speech
Answering questions is the most difficult part of public speaking for many people. We think through and prepare the content of the speech and the design of the slides in advance, the most responsible of us rehearse our speech and hone our oratorical techniques, but answering questions cannot be prepared and rehearsed. So what can you do to turn this part of public speaking to your advantage?
So, let's imagine that you have finished your presentation, demonstrating a logically constructed speech structure, visually comfortable slides and artistic delivery. Now you have to get feedback from the audience. Your task is to effectively work with the audience's response so as not to simply spoil the presentation, but, on the contrary, to add points to yourself.
It is best if your reaction to questions and objections from algeria phone number lead listeners consists of three parts - an emotional response, clarification, and the actual answer.
An emotional response can be expressed simply by a glance, a slight bow, gratitude for the question, or a compliment to the person asking the question in the form of an assessment of his competence, originality of his view on the problem, or erudition.
Thank you, this is an important question.
This is a very common question that comes up often, I will be happy to answer it.
What an unusual question!
You ask a very relevant question...
This question gives me the opportunity to explain/clarify/emphasize…
Clarification is necessary when you do not understand or do not hear a question, the listener asks several questions at once, expresses disagreement emotionally, or when you need time to think.
Please clarify what your question is?
Did I understand correctly that your question is the following..?
Help me understand what you would like to know first?
Answering questions is the most difficult part of public speaking for many people. We think through and prepare the content of the speech and the design of the slides in advance, the most responsible of us rehearse our speech and hone our oratorical techniques, but answering questions cannot be prepared and rehearsed. So what can you do to turn this part of public speaking to your advantage?
So, let's imagine that you have finished your presentation, demonstrating a logically constructed speech structure, visually comfortable slides and artistic delivery. Now you have to get feedback from the audience. Your task is to effectively work with the audience's response so as not to simply spoil the presentation, but, on the contrary, to add points to yourself.
It is best if your reaction to questions and objections from algeria phone number lead listeners consists of three parts - an emotional response, clarification, and the actual answer.
An emotional response can be expressed simply by a glance, a slight bow, gratitude for the question, or a compliment to the person asking the question in the form of an assessment of his competence, originality of his view on the problem, or erudition.
Thank you, this is an important question.
This is a very common question that comes up often, I will be happy to answer it.
What an unusual question!
You ask a very relevant question...
This question gives me the opportunity to explain/clarify/emphasize…
Clarification is necessary when you do not understand or do not hear a question, the listener asks several questions at once, expresses disagreement emotionally, or when you need time to think.
Please clarify what your question is?
Did I understand correctly that your question is the following..?
Help me understand what you would like to know first?