Page 273 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Speaking of . . .

Handling the Q&A

Frequently after a speech, you will be expected to take ques-
tions from the audience. You should not be fearful of this
situation, as it is actually an opportunity to gain important
feedback from your audience as well as to clarify points that
may not have been completely understood. Successfully
answering questions, even hostile ones, can add to your
credibility as a speaker. The key is to regulate that feedback
in a constructive manner. Some basic guidelines for han-
dling the question-and-answer period following a speech
are given below. 1

• Announce at the outset that you will take questions at
the end of your speech. Under no circumstances take
questions during the speech, as it will cause you to
lose control of the situation. When audience members
know they will have the opportunity to ask questions
at the end of the speech, they will be able to think
about them as you speak.
• Overprepare for your speech. You need to know
more than you cover in the speech if you are to take
questions. If you expect a hostile audience, it is a
good idea to anticipate their toughest questions and
prepare answers in advance.
• Restate questions if they cannot be heard by all. If you Controversial fi lmmaker Michael Moore takes audience questions.
are speaking with a microphone, someone asking
a question from the audience probably cannot be
heard. Restating the question not only allows every-
• Be brief. Answer questions as succinctly as possible
one to hear what was asked, it also allows you time to
and move on to the next question. Overly long answers
think of an answer. If a question is wordy, hostile, or
bore the audience and frustrate others who want to
imprecise, try to rephrase it in a way that neutralizes
ask questions.
some of the problems with the question.
• Announce when you are near the end of the Q&A.
• Answer questions directly with facts to back up your
When you sense the audience growing restless, the
answers. This requires you to be fully prepared.
questions have become repetitive, or you are near the
However, if you don’t know the answer, just say so.
end of your allotted time, simply announce that you
You can always promise to obtain the facts and get
can take only one or two more questions.
back to the questioner at a later date. It is better to
admit you don’t know an answer than to be proved • At the end of the Q&A, restate the focus of your speech
wrong because you tried to bluff your way through and summarize its essential points. This is your
an answer. chance to get in the last word and remind the audi-
ence of the basic theme of your speech. Depending
• Take questions from different audience members.
on the situation, you may want to make yourself avail-
Don’t let yourself get into a debate or an argument
able for informal discussion after the speech.
with one audience member. Insist that everyone who
has a question gets a chance to ask it before you
return to a previous questioner. Choose questioners 1 Some of these guidelines are based on a pamphlet by Robert
from different parts of the room as well so that every- Haakensan, How to Handle the Q&A (Philadelphia: Smith Kline &
one feels he or she will get a chance. French Laboratories, Department of Public Relations, n.d.).
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