Public Speaking tip # 30 The Dreaded Q and A

Many speakers put hours of preparation into their talk and barely give a moments thought to the Q and A. A big mistake. TRANSCRIPT: A brilliantly crafted and presented public speech can be brought undone by the Q and A session at the end. While it is vital to focus on the body of your speech - under prepare for the Q and A at your peril. It’s also often the most feared part of a speech but it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right amount of preparation and practice the Q and A can be the icing on the cake but there are a number of things you need to do to make sure your session runs seamlessly. Firstly, prepare and rehearse the types of questions you’re likely to get - get a friend to listen to your speech and then ask you questions about it. Be warm - many speakers who’’d earlier engaged with the audience during the presentation, cool noticeably fearing the worst from the Q and A. The goodwill you built up is lost immediately. So begin the Q and A with a warm smile, show you are looking forward to answering their questions. Have some questions ready if the audience is slow to get involved - “I’m often asked….. Listen closely to each question and before answering repeat the question so all your audience know what it is - repeating the Q also gives you time to formulate your answer. Be interested and receptive even if the question may seem out of place - show your questioners respect and never be dismissive. Admit it when you don’t know the answer - don’t wing it -you’ll always be found out - say I’m sorry that question is outside the parameters of my research/knowledge but I will find out for you Keep your sense of humour - If a question comes out of left field that throws you but draws a laugh from the audience join in. Being the butt of a light hearted comment will endear you to the crowd. Time - Always be aware of the time remaining. It’s very poor form to run over time as there maybe other speakers or sessions that will run late. Leave a minute at the end to wrap up the session with two or three sentences that encapsulate your talk and perhaps a Call to action. “So remember we can all make a difference when we go out to vote on Saturday.” or Make sure you do you bit for the environment Remember the Q and A session comes at the end of a presentation, how you perform during that time will have a lasting impact on the listeners. So you must work to end on a high note and make a final, positive impression on the audience. With enough practice the Q and A could be one of the highlights of your presentation.