iLEAP Academia

Q &A sessions are important elements of a presentation. At the outset of the presentation, state when you would like to handle the questions. Preferably allot some time at the end of session. Answering questions is a good way to summarize the main points, clarify understanding, and reinforce your recommendations.

Make sure that you respond to the questions asked. While answering enthusiastically and positively, keep the answers focused and brief. Don’t  shy away  from  admitting  when  you  don’t  know the  answer. During the preparation phase, it makes sense to anticipate the kind of questions that may come up and plan suitable responses.
So you have good questions, difficult questions, and unnecessary questions. The best way to buy time to handle a question is to repeat the question itself.

Good questions help you to reinforce or elaborate on your  man points. Difficult questions often come from hecklers whose intention  is to  confuse you , embarrass or  challenge you. You could choose to answer or avoid the question saying that you do not wish to comment on it. Irrelevant questions are those which ask about information that you have already given. You could respond to this by saying that it was already answered earlier.

How do you answer the questions? Start by listening carefully. If it is a question on elaboration of a point, be patient and answer. It is often best  to repeat the  question as it  ensures that everyone  hears it, and gives you  time  to formulate an answer. Maintain eye contact  with the  questioner, and  also with the rest of the  audience. Keep your answer brief, and understand the intent of the question asked. Don’t preempt a question and try to answer before a question is fully completed.

Be wary of questioners who ask questions only to seek attention or promote themselves. Be in control, and  bring the  focus  back  to the  group and  respond  to repeated questions  from the same  person  only once all other  questioners have had their  chance. Avoid giving predetermined answers to questions as this might be irritating and unfulfilling for the questioner. Avoid defensive answers as it is a sign of weakness.
And what if there are no questions from the audience? Turn the tables, pick a specific  point  from  your  presentation that  could stimulate discussion and  ask the  audience about their views on  it. Define topics for discussion – ask if anyone has questions on the concepts  covered on the day.

The  simple technique  for  answering is  to  first listen, then understand, next  communicate and  involve  not  just  the  questioner but the  whole  audience  by  paraphrasing the  question before you  respond.

Summary:

• Allot suitable amount of time for a Q&A session
• Answer sincerely and read audience intention behind the question.
• If there are no questions, then turn tables and ask them counter question from the presentation to check understanding.

Reflection Time

Prashant your colleague tends to get nervous during the question answer segment of the presentations. While he is otherwise well prepared, knows his content very well and speaks confidently, come Q &A time and his body language changes. He appears nervous, resorts to nervous tics and starts to use too many fillers.

This has happened  any a time, and  he now dreads having to handle this segment of the  presentation. In fact, often the  meekest  of the audience responds  in a  hostile  manner and challenge him  since they see his nervousness. What would you suggest Prashant do? How would you advise him to handle hecklers and people who torment him with repeated irrelevant questions?

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