how to handle difficult questions during a presentation

Seven Strategies for Handling Difficult Questions – What to Say When You Don’t Know the Answer

Honesty is the only policy when presenting.  Blatantly admitting, “I don’t know”, in front of an audience can be a credibility disaster.  What to do?

No one can know the answer to every question.  It’s how the inevitable is handled that separates the amateurs from the Pros.

Use the following Seven Strategies to field even the toughest questions with tact and poise.

1. Reflection

Repeat the question and reflect it back to your audience, “Does anyone here have any experience with that?”

When you allow the audience to help you, they will save you without ever realizing it.  In fact, the audience will revere you because adults love to be involved and share their knowledge.  After you have fielded all contributions, summarize, and add your own ideas, if any have been sparked.

Summarizing at the end helps you to maintain control and authority.  Always repeat questions before answering for the same reason.

2. I’ll Get Back to You

This trusted standard works well if you do Three Things…

•  Write the question down. Be conspicuous.  Make sure everyone knows you are writing the question down.  I go so far as telling the audience, “I am writing this question down.”
• Tell the questioner exactly when you will get back to them. Be honest.  Then do it.  Can you get back to them by the end of the day?  If it is an allday program, can you get back to them after lunch?
• Be sure to get the questioner’s contact information if you don’t have it.

These Three Things give this Strategy power.  This is not smoke and mirrors.  It is real-time Customer Service- go the extra mile, expand your knowledge, impress your audience.

3. Defer to the Expert

This is a more sophisticated version of the Reflection technique.

Sometimes a question is legitimately outside your area of expertise.  You may be a marketing expert, and someone asks a question about engineering.  The question requires an engineer.

If there is an engineer in the room you could say, “Sally, you’re an engineer.  Do you have any insights into that?”  If there are no engineers in the room, state that you will confer with an engineer and get back to them .

Notice I have just combined two techniques.

4. Compliment the Questioner

Two Things make this Strategy effective…

• Rarity Some presenters respond to EVERY question with, “Great question.”  If you do this, break the habit immediately.  Otherwise, you will lose one of the most effective techniques in your toolbox when you don’t know the answer.

This Strategy works, when sincere, because audience’s love to be complimented.  They like to “stump” the teacher.  The audience becomes focused on how smart they are instead of judging the presenter.

You can also combine this technique with I’ll Get Back to You .

5. Answer a Question with a Question

Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer.  Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response.

Once upon a time I was a software trainer.  One day a woman asked me a very specific question, “What does that button do?”  I had no idea, but I didn’t confess, “I don’t know.”

Instead, I asked her a question, “What is your goal in pushing that button?”  She elaborated and explained what she wanted to accomplish.  I knew a way to help, and it didn’t involve pushing that button!

She was happy.  I was honest, credible, helpful, and very happy.

6. Parallel Answer

If you don’t know the bull’s eye answer to a question, offer what you do know quickly to demonstrate some credibility and then combine with a previous technique.

Many moons ago, when I was a software trainer, I used to be an expert in Lotus, a now extinct spreadsheet package.  As Microsoft Excel eclipsed Lotus, I had to learn Excel so I could teach it.  I was on a learning curve.  Sometimes I would be asked a question about Excel that I didn’t know the answer to, but I did know the answer in Lotus.

Quickly I would say, “I know that is possible in Lotus.  I can find out if that is possible in Excel.  I’m writing this question down.  I’ll research it at the break and get back to you .”  Refrain from droning on and on about your parallel knowledge.

Brevity is the key to this technique.  Be sure to combine with Reflection or I’ll Get Back to You to hit the bull’s eye answer for your audience.

7. Set Rules

Prevention is the best medicine.  You can avoid many Difficult Questions by Setting Rules in the beginning.  Whenever you present, you are the Leader.  So, take the Lead and Set Rules up front.

If you Set Rules and follow them, the audience respects you.  If you make rules up as you go, you lose credibility.  This has been my experience.

The number of Rules you set will vary depending on the topic and your audience.  When I taught Programming Languages and Software, I set lots of Rules because I knew the questions would be many and varied.

Example… I would start a Software Seminar by saying, “I welcome general questions at any time about anything on the Agenda.  If you have questions about a specific project or a subject outside the Agenda, please see me at a break for private consultation.  Because we have limited time, I may stop taking questions and comments sometimes to make certain we cover every Agenda topic today.”

Setting Rules is critical.  Lead and Set Rules conversationally at the beginning of your presentation to Prevent most Difficult Questions.

No one can know the answer to every question.  It is possible to handle the inevitable situation with honesty and credibility like a Pro.  Use these Seven Strategies to enjoy Difficult Questions, learn from them, and impress your audience.

About the Author

Mary Sandro helps professionals deliver brief, logically sound, emotionally engaging presentations that get an audience to take action.  Learn to excel at presenting and love the process in just 60 Minutes with the Get Them MarchingFramework.  Includes instant online access and optional live coaching.  Visit www.ProEdgeSkills.com or call 800-731-0601.

About Mary Sandro

Mary Sandro helps organizations deliver exceptional customer service and standout presentations. In 1994 she founded ProEdge Skills, Inc. to deliver engaging training programs, videos, coaching, and train-the-trainer licenses that empower employees to achieve goals. Learn more at www.ProEdgeSkills.com or call 800-731-0601.

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Presentation Guru

The most successful ways to answer questions from your audience.

Every presenter will eventually have to deal with questions from an audience, but what are the best ways to prepare for the questions they may ask? In this article Simon gives a few tips to make sure you’re always ready to answer your audience’s questions effectively, and with confidence .

Let’s face it, presentations are scary. And that’s quite right – they should be. Nerves show you care. If you’re not nervous, why are you bothering? I’ve met good presenters and I’ve met presenters who aren’t nervous: I can count the number of presenters who are in both camps on the thumbs of one foot.

So far, so obvious. But when I ask clients what the most scary bit of presentations is, they most common answer I get is, the questions section.

If I probe deeper, the reasons it’s the most nerve-wracking include things like:

• I can control the rest of the presentation but not this bit
• I can’t rehearse the questions – or the answers!
• I have to think too fast
• I might not know the answers
• I might find out people didn’t like it
• I might have made a mistake

The scary bit, then. The bit of the presentation which brings even experienced presenters out in a cold sweat. Before we get into the tools and techniques for handling questions, let’s look at some of these, very quickly. We can shoot a few of these issues down without breaking sweat – particularly the last few…

Get your ego out of the way

Let’s face it, if you’ve made mistakes, wouldn’t you like to know? If you’d rather people didn’t tell you that you’ve screwed up, you’re not ever going to get a job on my team. The same is true if you’d rather not know that people didn’t like it. Grow up.

And while we’re at it, if you don’t know the answers, that’s fine. Not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world. So long as you know enough, it’s okay. Not knowing the answers is only a problem if you don’t know too many of the answers.

So let’s move on and look at bit more at the ‘real’ issues.

The first thing to say is that more or less any and all of the tricks you learn as a presenter for handling nerves can be used at the start of questions. At the moment when you invite the questions, do your nerves-control-techniques , just like you did at the start of the presentation. (If you don’t have any, pay me to learn some 😉 )

The second key point is very simple. People only ask questions for one of two reasons. Firstly, to show off and secondly because they’re interested. The first group will be transparent to the audience, so don’t lose any sleep over anyone whose ego is bigger than their common sense. The second group, those who ask questions because they want to know more, are to be celebrated. They’re a good thing. Honestly.

Remember, people only ask questions if they care. The very fact that they’re asking questions is a great thing because it shows you did the key thing a presentation is supposed to do – you got them interested. When the questions happen, allow yourself a little smile inside. Result!

Predicting the future – and guessing the questions

But what about this idea that you don’t know what the questions are going to be?

Sorry, but that’s tosh. You might not be able to predict exactly what question, but you can certainly predict the sort of question. A structured, sensible process for designing your presentation – whatever process you use – will certainly throw up more content than you can fit into your presentation. The process of designing your presentation should start off by deciding what to remove.

Chances are, the questions you get will lie in that area you’ve cut out. And if that’s the case, you know what the content is, so you can design your answers just like you’d design the rest of your presentation . Simple.

Well yes… but just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. Just ask anyone who’s ever tried to lose weight. The rules of “Eat less: move more” are simple – but not easy!

So let’s break it down a bit to make it more practical. I’m going to start by looking at how to handle the worst case scenario… the blank head where you just don’t know the answer. (Note, I’m dealing with it first because it’s easy to get out of the way, not because it happens often!)

I have no idea

The worst case scenario is simply not to know the answer, so let’s deal with that first. The best way I’ve ever found to handle this issue is to be honest about it, but to respond in a very structured way, so that my credibility stays intact. The formula is this:

• I don’t know, but it’s a good point
• so I’ll find out
• and if you give me your email address I’ll get back to you about it
• by lunchtime on Thursday

Obviously you change the time in the last part to be something you can handle. The first line is a simple admission that you’ve not got the answer to hand. The second part is where you start to recover. The last line is the critical one though. This is how you sound credible to the audience.

Try it for yourself: just say the first line and see how ‘shallow’ it sounds. Then start from the beginning and go through the first two lines. It’s better, but it’s not trustworthy. Finally, run through the whole set of lines and see how much more ‘weight’ the whole thing has when you make a specific promise.

It goes without saying that you need to deliver on that promise!

I still have no idea

A couple of alternative techniques are useful here, too… you can use these in a mix-and-match way.

• Open up to the audience. Try something like “That’ a very good question – what does everyone else in the room think?”. If you do it with enough style and you’ve used an approach up until that point which has been sufficiently collaborative and informal, it can work seamlessly.
• Use a broader-brush answer . Sometimes the question isn’t one that requires a very specific response. You’d be surprised how often one broad-brush answer can be applied to different questions. Take a few moments to consider if this is one of those times. If you’ve got (say) five or six such ‘generic’ answers sorted out in your head before you start your presentation you can often apply one of them instead of trying to improvise an answer.

Save yourself some thinking and PREP

Answering questions means you have to think hard and fast – about both the content of what you say and the way that you say it. One very handy trick is to use structured formulae to give your response a shape. That way you only need to think about the actual content – halving the work on your brain. Once you’ve learned these tools, not only will you love ‘em, you’ll spot them almost every time you listen to a political interview.

This formula is particularly handy for dealing with challenging questions: it stands for Past, Present and Future.

You use it like this:

•  “You’re absolutely right to point out that in the past our response times have been too slow. It often took us up to a week to get back to users who emailed in with questions – although the average response time was only 36 hours.”
• “What we’re doing right now is investing in training 14 new members of the online help team. They’re all experts in the software already, so we’re just bringing them up to speed about how the helpdesk works.”
• “What this means that starting next Monday we’ll have a bigger response team standing by, as these new people come on-stream: they should all be up-and-running within only ten days.”

(Numbers 1, 2 and 3 representing Past, Present and Future, in this example.)

This is the most subtle of the formulae, and it stands for Point, Reason, Example, Point. The last point is a restatement of the first one to really hammer it home, not a new point.

The Reason section of your response deals with big picture, data and statistical responses. It puts a logical set of facts to your audience. To make it more impactful with your audience you need to back it up with an Example . Finally you recap your Point .

This example shows you how I used it to respond to a challenging question about women’s rights from someone who was genuinely surprised that women and (more or less) equal rights to men in the UK, including being able to vote…

• “Do I believe women should have the right to vote? Yes, absolutely!”
• “Let’s face it, women make up a bit over half the population of the country and they bring in about forty-eight percent of our GDP – nearly half the money they country gets in.”
• “In fact, in my own household, my wife has a great job and bring in nearly twice the amount I do. It makes her the economic head of the household, although we don’t think of it in those terms. It would seem daft to have the economic head of the household able to vote!”
• “So yeah, absolutely, I think women should vote!”

I’ve labeled the PREP parts as numbers 1 to 4 so you can see what’s what, but the words should flow naturally.

That’s it. Actually it’s not – there’s always more to be said… but it’s a great start.

Predict your questions, prepare your answers. Celebrate them when you get them, and use formulae to help you structure your answers. You’ll be great!

Don’t finish with questions

It all too easily means your presentation gradually runs out of energy and finishes with a whimper. Better to end with a bang. What I do is to take the questions and then when there are (almost) no questions left, go back into ‘ delivery ’ mode to give a very (very!) brief summary before wrapping up with my trademark close. It means the presentation finishes with high energy, on my terms…

• Latest Posts

Simon Raybould

+simon raybould, latest posts by simon raybould ( see all ).

• Motivational Speakers – Are They All They’re Cracked Up To Be? - 4th April 2017
• Do I Really Need Slides in Every Presentation? - 18th October 2016
• The Most Successful Ways to Answer Questions From Your Audience - 8th September 2016

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How to Nail the Q&A After Your Presentation

• Caroline Webb

You can’t rehearse it, but you can be prepared.

When preparing to give a presentation, most professionals focus their energy on the main portion of their talk — their key messages, slides, and takeaways. And far too few people think through how you’ll answer questions at the end of the presentation can be a big mistake. If you’re worried about how to hand the Q&A, there are several things you can do. Change your mindset. Rather than dreading this part of the talk, develop an appreciation for the conversation. It’s a good thing that people have follow-up questions and want to further engage with your content. Beforehand, think through the types of questions audience members might ask. Put yourself in your shoes and ask yourself what concerns they might have about how your message impacts their job. Then, when you’re asked a question, especially one that might be contentious, start your answer by focusing on where you and the person asking it agree. This makes the person feel seen and connected to you. And if you’re asked a question out of left field, be curious. Ask follow-up questions that help you understand what they’re getting at and where they’re coming from.

If you’re not a huge fan of public speaking , you’re in good company. It’s such a widely shared source of anxiety that when psychologists want to induce unpleasant stress in a person for experimental purposes, they often use a public speaking task called the Trier Social Stress Test . The test requires people to give a talk and do sums in front of a panel of impassive listeners, and it reliably generates stress markers such as a faster heart rate, raised cortisol levels, and “enhanced skin conductance,” which is the polite way of saying sweaty palms.

• Caroline Webb is the author of How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life . She is also CEO of coaching firm Sevenshift , and a senior adviser to McKinsey & Company. Follow her on Facebook or Google + . caroline_webb_

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Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, how to handle difficult questions.

As if getting up and presenting in front of a group isn’t stressful enough, what do you do if you encounter difficult questions from a member of your audience? Handling questions is one of the biggest concerns for many presenters. It is difficult to prepare when you don’t know what questions will be asked and it’s impossible to know the answer to every question. So, how do you handle difficult questions with confidence? The following tips will help you field even the toughest questions with poise. 

1. Listen to the Entire Question

Do not start formulating your answers until you have listened to the entire question. If needed, you may even ask the questioner to repeat the question so you fully understand. You may also want to clarify your understanding by repeating the question back to the questioner before answering. 

2. Compliment the Questioner

This can be an extremely effective strategy when used in moderation. You should never say, “Great question!†after every question. Overuse of the compliment makes it less effective. Then, when someone asks you a question you have never considered before, you can genuinely say, “That’s a great question. I’ve never thought about it that way before. Does anyone have any ideas on that?†This strategy is highly effective when it comes from a place of true sincerity. The audience loves to be complimented and they appreciate the compliment rather than judging the presenter. 

3. I’ll Get Back to You

If you are asked a question that you don’t know the answer to, you can work around it by telling the questioner, “I am writing this down and I will get back to you.†Then, be honest and tell them exactly when you plan to get back with them. Perhaps you will find them after the presentation, call or email them after lunch, or maybe even the next day. This is a great way to show true customer service. You are willing to go the extra mile to help the audience member gain the right information. Talk about impressing an audience!

4. Ask the Audience

Another great way to help yourself with a tough question while also engaging the audience is to involve the audience. When you are asked a question you don’t know the answer to, simply refer back to the audience by saying, “Does anyone here have any experience with that?†People love sharing their knowledge with others so this is a great way to help yourself while also involving your audience. 

5. Parallel Answer

If you don’t know the exact answer to a question, you can offer what knowledge you do have to demonstrate your credibility. For example, let’s say you are an expert on Microsoft Excel and someone asks you a question about Google Workspace. Instead of saying, “I don’t know,†you could respond with, “I am very familiar with Excel and I know that is possible with Excel. Let me find out if it works the same with Google Workspace.†While you admitted to not knowing the question, you demonstrated your competency and you committed to finding the answer. 

6. Set Guidelines for Questions

One of the best ways to handle difficult questions is to prevent them in the first place. As the speaker, you get to set the rules for the presentation. So, lay some groundwork upfront and start your presentation by saying, “I welcome general questions at the conclusion of the presentation but if you have questions about a specific subject outside of our agenda, please see me after the presentation.†Once the rules have been set, you can even refer back to them if needed. For example, if someone still asks a question that is specifically not part of the presentation, you can politely remind them to see you after the presentation for a private discussion.

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• How to Handle Difficult Questions with Confidence when Presenting

A guide to the  P.E.A.C.E.  process for Fielding Curveball Questions

Picture this….

You’ve spent hours, days, maybe even weeks on an important presentation. You know your content, the slide deck looks professional, but when it comes to the thought of the Q&A session, specifically the thought of those curly, curveball, complex questions, you start to feel way less confident, the butterflies emerge and you’re maybe feeling a little sick. Familiar scenario?

It’s a Self-protection Strategy

Even as a seasoned presenter and speaker I used to get the collywobbles (very English word for ‘jitters’!) when asked to finish my session with a Q&A. I’d be inundated and bombarded with the ‘What If’s?’ incessant self-talk.  “What if I don’t know the answer and look stupid? What if they strongly disagree? What if they try and disguise a comment or criticism as a question?”  To be completely honest, I’d often deliberately overrun, apologise for taking up Q&A time and offer to be available during the break. NOT very professional.

The role of our brain is to keep us safe (Evian Gordon 2000), it’s a brilliant prediction machine, continually anticipating what’s going to happen next. It’s what kept us alive and also what puts us into a state of ‘threat’ when faced with an uncertain experience at the end of our presentation. All of a sudden, those friendly colleagues, bosses or clients can turn into the arch enemy!  ‘Foe’ before ‘friend’ was the caveperson’s mantra that kept them alive and today presents itself as an unconscious bias.

Introducing the P.E.A.C.E. Process

When I was working with my coaching clients, I unpacked what it is that I now do to manage my emotional reaction and the strategies I use to handle ‘difficult’ questions and came up with the  P.E.A.C.E.  process, an acronym for:-

Prepare, Engage, Acknowledge, Clarify, Embrace

The  P.E.A.C. E . process is also a metaphor for being at peace with yourself and making peace with your audience when presenting and being at peace with the whole question and answer process.

Below is a brief description of each element of the model. If you want to learn more about this process and the strategies, please get in touch and I will send you a comprehensive e-book. Go to the contact page on this website and either complete the form or email me directly (email address on the page)

Each of the points outlined below is expanded upon in the eBook.

We invest a lot of time and energy on the content and flow of the presentation; we often think less about questions that might result from what we’re delivering. Being prepared around the topic of questions can save a lot of strife and improve your presentation quality. Here are some key considerations:-

•    Take Control of Question Time •    Factor enough Time for Questions •    Prepare through Breathing •    Notice your Self-talk •    Walk in their shoes – develop your Empathy •    Know the different Personalities in the Room •    Anticipate and Embed potential Questions or Objections

It stands to reason that if our minds are focused on the Q&A, we can’t be fully present and engaged during our presentation. Making a good connection from the outset and engaging your audience in your content is an effort that repays itself exponentially, so when it comes to Q&A time, everyone is feeling more settled, safe and comfortable.

•    Learn, remember and use Names •    ‘Read the Room’ •    Envision Success

Acknowledge

Acknowledging a question from your audience, no matter how curly, serves two key purposes, 1) it shows respect to the questioner, acknowledging that they have taken the trouble to listen and formulate a question, even a loaded one or a veiled criticism and  2) when we choose to view questions as a form of curiosity, interest or engagement, we lower our defences and this will show in our body language, especially posture and voice. I provide examples of how to acknowledge a question in the eBook.

Asking for clarification or more detail on the questions being asked benefits both parties. It gives you time to focus, pay attention and listen to the questioner and it gives the questioner an opportunity to rephrase or reframe their question if appropriate.

Asking for more detail also ensures that you are answering the right question as, if you have misunderstood, you could be mismatching the questioner and causing frustration not clarity. More than anything, you want to avoid that awkward moment when the questioner says,  “that’s not what I asked” ! For examples of asking for clarification, please download the eBook.

When you think about it, what better state of mind to be in than  embracing  the whole process of curveball questions! We can choose to see questions as clever ways to try and trip us up or we can choose to see them as avenues to create opportunities for better communication, clarity and resolution. Here are some of the key points covered in more detail in the eBook:-

• Reframing the concept of ‘difficult’
• The Power of the Pause
• Responding versus Reacting
• Responding when your answer is “No”
• Examples of responding without saying “No”
• Answering when you don’t know the Answer!
• Use of Humour
• Fielding Negative Comments and Criticism
• Tips for Dealing with Negativity

In Summary   

There are 101 ways to skin a cat (apologies to cat lovers, it’s a metaphor!) and I’m sure you’ll find what’s comfortable for you in time.

If you can see questions as part and parcel of a presentation, as a sign that people are interested or missing information and view them as an opportunity for you to develop your skills of communication and rapport building, it can change your approach to presenting as you gain confidence and present with gravitas. The only way to build your skill and confidence in fielding ‘interesting’ questions is to give it a go. The more you experience it, the easier it gets.

And remember, we don’t want to get rid of those butterflies because nervousness is a form of energy; we just need to get them flying in formation!

If you receive the eBook and gain benefit from it, the best way to spread the news would be to encourage others to sign up to BrainBuzz via the website homepage  and get their free copy.

This process forms part of our presentation skills program Speak UP! Presenting with Confidence, Clarity & Control. Download the flyer  here

Additional Free Resources

Since the last edition of BrainBuzz we have added a number of free eBooks on various topics that  you can access here

• Storytelling Resources

If you are interested in the Art of Science of storytelling for business, communication or professional development, you can  access a number of resources here

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Many otherwise extremely competent and confident presenters will tell you that they really dread the question and answer session of a presentation.

They seek ways to ‘avoid’ difficult questions. But it doesn’t have to be like that.

Dealing with questions in a presentation is a skill which anyone can master.

Perhaps the most important thing to understand is that, as a general rule, if people ask you questions, even hostile ones, it’s not to trip you up but because they genuinely want the answer.

Staying in Control of the Questions

Most people dread the question session because they fear losing control.

A little thought and some early planning can avoid this risk. But you can also avoid it by remembering that any presentation is an information exchange. It is as much for you to hear what people want to know as for them to hear from you.

However, if your presentation starts to get diverted by an interesting question, try saying something like:

“I think we’re getting a bit off topic here. Let’s put that to one side and you and I can chat about it later. Come and find me at the end and we’ll exchange contact details.”

“I’d really like to get on with the presentation, otherwise I may not have time to finish, but let’s talk about this later.”

Setting out some Ground Rules

At the start of your presentation, you should make it clear whether and when you would prefer to deal with questions - as you go along or at the end of the presentation.

Some speakers prefer questions to be raised as they arise during the presentation. The advantage of this approach is that any misunderstandings can be dealt with immediately. However, there is also a danger that the question will disrupt or distract the speaker, or that questions are raised that would have been covered later in the presentation.

Top tip! Categorising Questions

If you like to deal with questions as they arise, but you are concerned about the pitfalls, there is an easy way to handle this. In your introduction, explain that there are three types of questions:

• The sort that seeks clarification of something that has just been said – you will answer those immediately;
• The sort that asks a related question about something that you plan to cover later – you will answer those later in the presentation; and
• The sort that is best dealt with offline because most of the audience probably won’t be interested, or it’s outside the topic of the presentation – you will make a note of the question and come back to the questioner afterwards.

When a Type 2 or 3 question is asked, you can then say something like:

“ That’s a Type 2 question, so I’ll park that for now, and cover it later. If you don’t think I’ve covered it by the end, remind me, and I’ll go over it.”

Other speakers prefer to deal with questions at the end of the presentation.

If you prefer this approach, ensure that you set aside sufficient time for questions but also limit the amount of time available. The amount of time will depend on the type of presentation you are giving but usually 10 minutes of question time should be sufficient.

The big advantage of this approach is that if you talk too quickly, you will simply have a longer question session: a big incentive to talk slowly and carefully, and make sure that your audience understands everything as you go.

You should not close the presentation with the question and answer session.

When you have finished answering questions, make sure that you have the last word with a strong assertion of your main message(s).

In other words, you can thank the audience for their questions and then summarise once again the main point or points that your presentation was designed to communicate.

An Introduction to Question Sessions

The main rule of question sessions is to treat your audience with the respect you would like to have shown to you, and answer their questions directly and honestly.

If they have asked a question, it is because they want to know the answer.

It is very unlikely that anyone will ask a question solely to trip you up, although this does happen.

If a question is provocative, answer it directly. Never be rude to the questioner or show you are upset. Do not compromise yourself but maintain your point of view and never lose your temper.

This tactic can be difficult to maintain but the key is being assertive.

Visit our section on assertiveness to learn some more tips, start with: Assertiveness - An Introduction .

Managing Questions

Listen carefully to the question and, if the audience is large, repeat it to ensure everyone in the audience has heard.

If you’re not sure you understood correctly, paraphrase it back to the questioner and check that you have it right. Answer briefly and to the point.

If you do not know the answer, then say so and offer to find out. Then ensure that you follow up . To be able to respond, you will need the questioner’s name and email address, so make sure that you speak to them before they or you leave.

“ I don’t know ” is a very acceptable answer to some difficult questions and it is much more acceptable than stumbling through an answer or making something up. “ I don’t know, but I’ll find out and let you know ” is even more acceptable.

Relax and do not feel as if you have to know everything. If you don’t know it is better to be honest than to try to pretend.

Trust takes a long time to build up, but it can be lost in moments, and audiences will almost always know when you are not being genuine.

An Alternative Tactic: Involving your Audience

If you are speaking to a well-informed audience, a professional group for example , and the question is a fairly general one to which you do not know the answer, consider asking the room if anyone else would like to respond. You may have the world expert on that subject sitting there who would be delighted to share their expertise with you all. If you have noticed someone in particular, you can even say:

“ I noticed that Professor X is in the room, so I wonder if he would like to comment on that to save me displaying my ignorance ”

“ My colleague over there is more familiar with that area than I am so, while I don’t want to put him on the spot, maybe he would be prepared to shed some light on this? ”

Most people will be fine with that approach, especially if they really do know more about it than you, and it will mean that the room gets a much better response. Yes, you’re the one standing at the front, but you don’t know everything.

You may also find our general pages on questioning useful see Questioning and Question Types .

Continue to: Coping with Presentation Nerves Managing the Presentation Event

See Also: Preparing for a Presentation | Organising the Material Deciding the Presentation Method Working with Visual Aids

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > How to handle questions and objections during a presentation

How to handle questions and objections during a presentation

Don’t let an unexpected inquiry shake your confidence while presenting. These tips for adjusting to and accommodating questions and objections can help you leave your audience even more impressed that they already were.

Hold your questions, please

While you might be confident in your notes and your delivery, you never know what a questioner might throw at you during your presentation. And if you have presentation anxiety , the idea of an unplanned interaction can just be one more thing to worry about. One simple way to offset those spur-the-moment interruptions is to set up the structure of the presentation, including when you’re taking questions, as part of your presentation’s introduction. Here’s two distinct approaches to handling questions.

• Ask your audience to hold all questions until the end. This approach can hopefully help you get through your entire presentation uninterrupted. It may even cut down on the volume of questions if you’re able to answer common curiosities by covering your subject thoroughly or even including an FAQ slide or section towards the end of your talk. If you choose this tactic, you can encourage your audience to write questions down so they can remember their questions and ask them during the appropriate time.
• Allow question time at the end of a topic section. This approach can help group likely questions or objections by subject matter and can be a flexible way to give your audience a more in-the-moment feel while still allowing you to cover your material in a way that feels comfortable. You can even provide a timeframe, i.e., “Now we’ll have three minutes for questions” to further structure this moment.

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Your approach will probably be dictated by the overall length of your presentation and how your material is organized. But in general, it can save you a bit of time and sanity to have designated Q+A periods rather than allowing questions to be peppered in willy-nilly. A secret benefit to saving questions until the end is that by that point, you and the audience likely have built rapport with the audience, hopefully because you’ve demonstrated that you’re a competent, thoughtful presenter. Establishing that relationship may head off a listener’s desire to challenge or object to you that they may have walked in with an hour ago. But audiences can be unpredictable, so be prepared to field a few questions or comments that might not be as friendly as you hoped.

The question that’s more of a comment, and more

Perhaps you’ve succeeded in holding questions at the end of the presentation. Or, maybe despite your best efforts, someone really had to satisfy their curiosity on slide 26. No matter when these questions, comments or concerns come up, these tips will help you handle inquires with grace and aplomb.

• Prepare ahead of time. If you know your subject matter, you know what questions you’re likely to get, what parts an audience might find confusing or upsetting. By thinking of responses that you can share in the moment, you’ll be able to draw upon those responses more easily when similar questions arise. The preparation will also help you feel more confident if someone attempts to rattle you by asking a “gotcha”-type question.
• Think about what you want to convey. What is this presentation really about? This is the material you can use to help refocus when someone’s question threatens to derail your point. You can acknowledge what they’re saying and then redirect towards what is more important for the audience or more familiar to you.
• Empathize but don’t get sucked in. If someone’s confused or upset, it’s good to acknowledge those feelings. It helps them feel heard and may lessen their desire to antagonize or challenge you. At the same time, you have a job to do, and the rest of the audience will feel left out, and time will run short if you make this exchange the sudden focus of your moment in the spotlight. Try to avoid defensiveness. Think of yourself as separate from the question and material to helps you become less personally invested in the situation. You can also offer up to follow up with the person later if the interaction risks becoming bigger than the presentation itself—and then keep your promise.
• All eyes are on you, but also the other person. How you handle this question or objection might just stick out in people’s minds and may be an additional opportunity to impress them. But it’s also possible that if the questioner is belligerent or rude, their approach may be reflecting poorly on them and direct others’ sympathy to you, so focus on being the best you that you can be in that moment, a you that knows your subject and wants to help others understand it.

Handled thoughtfully, questions and objections during a presentation are an additional learning opportunity for everyone involved—if perhaps not the learning opportunity you expected.

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The Art of Question & Answer: Handling Audience Questions Like a Pro

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking

If you have ever given a presentation , you might know how witty and challenging a question-and-answer session can get. Not knowing the answer to a question can be quite unnerving and leave a bad impression even after a fabulous presentation. This blog will help you bridge that gap before your next presentation. We will talk about how to maintain your composure as you deal with questions and also the different types of difficult questions one can face.

Why should I have a Question-and-answer session?

Having a Question and Answer (Q&A) session serves multiple valuable purposes. It transforms one-sided communication into a two-way exchange, turning lectures or speeches into engaging discussions. This interaction not only enhances audience engagement but also promotes collaboration and the collective building of knowledge. Historically, great questions have driven innovation and change, such as Isaac Newton’s curiosity about gravity. During a Q&A , encouraging audience participation by inviting questions and making eye contact with various attendees creates a sense of connection and keeps the session lively, much like a talk show host engaging their audience. 

Including a question and answer (Q&A) session after your presentation holds numerous advantages and is a pivotal aspect of engaging with your audience effectively.

Let’s delve into these reasons:

1. audience engagement and participation: .

Inviting questions at the end of your presentation allows your audience to actively participate, transforming your session into an interactive experience. As Albert Einstein aptly put it, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

2. Addressing Confusion and Skepticism:

 Your presentation might leave some audience members perplexed or unconvinced. Before you begin, it’s vital to gauge your audience’s understanding. As Aristotle noted, “Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” Q&A provides an excellent opportunity to clarify doubts and bolster your argument.

3. Expanding on Your Message: 

Often, time constraints force you to condense crucial information during your presentation. Q&A, however, empowers you to elaborate on your points, share practical examples, and address any opposition, creating a more comprehensive understanding. This aligns with Robert Frost’s sentiment: “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”

4. Fostering Natural Interaction: 

Effective public speaking thrives on interaction. Audiences seek speakers who communicate openly and naturally. Q&A brings a conversational and relatable dimension to your presentation. As Maya Angelou wisely said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

5. Challenging Your Expertise: 

The unpredictability of Q&A keeps you on your toes. You must be well-prepared and nimble to handle a variety of questions and objections. Eleanor Roosevelt’s words resonate: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face.”

How do you answer Questions effectively?

Handling a question-and-answer session effectively requires preparation, communication skills, and adaptability. Whether you’re conducting a Q&A session as a speaker, presenter, or moderator, here are some tips to help you manage it effectively:

1. Preparation is Key:

Know your audience: Research your audience’s demographics, interests, and knowledge level. Tailor your responses to their needs and expectations. Imagine you’re hosting a Q&A session about pets. Knowing your audience means finding out if they’re mostly cat lovers, dog enthusiasts, or perhaps reptile fans. This helps you tailor your answers to their specific interests, like offering dog training tips for dog lovers and habitat ideas for reptile enthusiasts.

Anticipate questions: Develop a list of potential questions that might arise during the session. This can help you prepare concise and informative answers. If you’re giving a presentation about a superhero movie, anticipate questions like “Who’s the main villain?” or “What are the special powers of the hero?” Prepare concise answers to these common questions to keep the audience engaged.

Review your material: Revisit your presentation or discussion content before the Q&A session. This will help you recall key points and examples that may be relevant to questions. For Ex: You’re a teacher conducting a Q&A after a science class. Before the session, review your notes on the periodic table. This ensures that when a student asks, “What are the noble gases?” you can confidently explain their properties.

2. Set Expectations:

Clearly explain how the Q&A session will be structured. For example, inform the audience whether questions will be taken throughout the session or only at the end. Mention any time constraints.

Let the audience know if you have topics you’d like to cover or all questions are welcome. 

For example: Think of a cooking class where you’re the instructor. Before starting, inform your students that they can ask questions anytime during the class. This sets the expectation that it’s an interactive learning experience.

3. Active Listening:

Give the questioner your full attention. Make eye contact, nod to acknowledge understanding, and avoid interrupting.

Repeat or rephrase the question if needed to ensure clarity and show that you are actively engaged with the questioner.

Imagine you’re a detective in a mystery novel. When a witness asks, “Did you see the suspect?”, listen attentively, nod to acknowledge, and ask follow-up questions to gather all the details. This demonstrates active listening.

4. Take a pause

Before answering any question there is a key aspect that makes you look smart and composed- “The Pause.” The Pause is where you gather your thoughts and prepare your answer in a gist. You decide how to answer the question and tackle it swiftly. If you perhaps don’t know the answer, what is the best way to say you will get back with an answer, and so on? You can get a firm grip on your audience as they wait for you to speak and then speak with utmost clarity, that is the power of Pauses. 

5. Be Concise and Clear:

Answer each question briefly and directly. Avoid going off on tangents or providing excessive background information.

Use plain language and avoid jargon that might confuse the audience. Suppose you’re explaining how to play a video game. Instead of going into a lengthy backstory, say, “To win, you must collect all the magical crystals and defeat the dragon boss.” This clear and concise explanation keeps players engaged.

6. Stay Calm and Confident:

If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit it gracefully. Offer to research or follow up later, and don’t try to bluff your way through.

Maintain a calm and composed demeanor even in the face of challenging or critical questions. Focus on addressing the question, not the tone.

This is also where your preparation becomes your backbone and provides you the confidence to deal with your audience. 

Also, I want you to remember that knowledge is very vast- The more you gain knowledge the more you realize how little you know! Do not worry about admitting that you don’t know an answer, you can provide whatever information you have and later get back to them when you do find one.

7. Manage Time:

Allocate a specific amount of time for the Q&A session and communicate this at the outset. Stick to the schedule to ensure you cover all planned topics. If necessary, prioritize questions based on relevance or importance.

Think of a soccer coach during a practice session. Allocate specific time for different drills and stick to the schedule. This ensures that all aspects of the game are covered within the session.

8. Field Diverse Questions:

Encourage a wide range of questions, including those that challenge your viewpoint or prompt discussion. This diversity can lead to more engaging and informative sessions.

For Example: In a book club discussion, encourage members to ask questions about various aspects of the book, from plot details to character motivations. This diversity of questions leads to a more engaging conversation.

9. Moderate Effectively:

As someone who has to give direction to the discussion, try to maintain control of the session and ensure questions are relevant to the topic and audience. Politely redirect or filter out off-topic or inappropriate questions.

Give everyone a chance to ask questions, and manage time to allow for a variety of voices to be heard.

Pretend you’re a radio DJ taking calls from listeners. If someone goes off-topic, gently steer the conversation back to the music or topic of the show to maintain a cohesive experience.

10. Encourage Feedback:

After the Q&A, ask the audience for feedback on the session’s effectiveness. This can help you improve future sessions and tailor them to the audience’s needs. 

Example: After a group art project, ask each participant what they liked and what could be improved. This feedback helps everyone learn from the experience and create better art in the future.

11. Follow-Up:

If you promised to provide additional information or research an answer, do so promptly after the session. This demonstrates your commitment to addressing the audience’s needs.

12. Reflect and Improve:

After each session, take time to analyze what went well and what could be improved. Consider seeking feedback from colleagues or mentors to refine your Q&A skills for future engagements.

Can I answer a Question with a Question?

Many a time we think is it disrespectful to answer a question with a question, or perhaps even condescending? However, answering a question with a question can be an effective communication technique when used thoughtfully, but it’s essential to be mindful of the context and tone to avoid coming across as disrespectful or condescending. 

Consider, for instance, a scenario where someone asks, “Do you know where my keys are?” Responding with, “Have you checked your coat pocket?” instead of a direct “yes” or “no” can be helpful. However, if someone in a team meeting asks, “How do we solve this problem?” replying with, “Well, what solutions have you considered?” can encourage collaborative problem-solving. So, while answering a question with a question can be a valuable tool for prompting critical thinking or guiding discussions, it’s crucial to gauge the situation and intent to ensure it’s used appropriately.

Types of Difficult Questions:

Often times in presentations we don’t get softball questions that are easy to handle but rather some sort of pushback. The audience tries to gauge your authenticity or simply disagrees with you. These are what we call Difficult questions. They are inquiries that pose challenges beyond their surface. They require careful consideration, provoke thought, or test one’s knowledge, often demanding more than a simple yes or no answer. Handling difficult questions effectively is a skill that involves not only providing accurate responses but also managing the dynamics of the discussion and the emotions of those asking. In this exploration, we’ll delve deeper into these challenging types of questions, dissect their nuances, and offer strategies for responding adeptly and constructively.

1. When You Don’t Know the Answer:

• Challenge: It’s common to face questions to which you don’t have an immediate answer, especially in complex or unfamiliar topics.
• Example: In a technical presentation, someone asks a highly technical question beyond your expertise.
• Admit it gracefully: Acknowledge that you don’t have the answer, but express your willingness to find it.
• Offer a partial answer: Share what you do know or suggest possible resources or experts to consult.
• Follow up: Make a commitment to research and provide a comprehensive response after the session.

2. Too Many Questions at the Same Time (Machine Gun Questioning):

• Challenge: Some audience members may bombard you with multiple questions all at once, making it difficult to respond coherently.
• Example: An audience member asks, “How does this technology work, and what are its applications? Can you explain its impact on the industry?”
• Politely request clarification: Ask the person to specify which question they’d like you to address first.
• Address one question at a time: Break down the multiple questions into individual responses to maintain clarity.
• Control the pace: Politely request that questions be asked one at a time to facilitate a more organized discussion.

3. Audience Member Makes a Statement and Tries to Take Over:

• Challenge: Some individuals may attempt to dominate the Q&A session by making lengthy statements or challenging your expertise.
• Example: An audience member insists on sharing their own knowledge and experience, seemingly to undermine your credibility.
• Acknowledge their input: Politely thank them for their perspective and acknowledge their knowledge.
• Redirect the focus: Gently guide the conversation back to the topic or the question at hand.
• Set boundaries: Establish ground rules for the Q&A session at the beginning, emphasizing that questions should be concise and relevant.

4. Emotional Questions Driven by Anger:

• Challenge: Emotionally charged questions, often stemming from anger or frustration, can be challenging to handle without escalating tension.
• Example: An audience member confronts you with anger about a controversial topic you’re discussing.
• Stay calm and empathetic: Maintain composure, listen attentively, and acknowledge the person’s emotions.
• Avoid confrontation: Refrain from responding with defensiveness or aggression, as it can escalate the situation.
• Reframe the question: Politely ask the person to rephrase their question in a more constructive and specific manner.

5. Off-Topic Questions:

• Challenge: Sometimes, audience members ask questions that are unrelated to the topic of your presentation or discussion.
• Example: In a business presentation on marketing strategies, someone asks about your personal hobbies.
• Politely redirect: Acknowledge the question but gently steer the conversation back to the main topic.
• Offer to discuss later: Suggest discussing off-topic questions after the session to avoid derailing the current discussion.

6. Provocative Questions:

• Challenge: These questions are designed to provoke a reaction or create controversy.
• Example: During a political debate, someone asks a loaded question aimed at stirring up emotions rather than seeking a constructive answer.
• Stay composed: Maintain a calm and respectful demeanor when responding, regardless of the provocation.
• Address the core issue: Focus on the underlying topic or concern within the provocative question rather than getting drawn into the emotional aspect.

7. Incomprehensible Questions:

• Challenge: Some questions are poorly phrased or unclear, making it challenging to discern the intent behind them.
• Example: An audience member asks a question with convoluted language and vague references.
• Seek clarification: Politely ask the person to rephrase or clarify their question to ensure you understand it correctly.
• Paraphrase and respond: Restate what you believe the question is about, and answer based on your interpretation. The person can then confirm or correct your understanding.

8. Condescending Questions:

• Challenge: These questions are posed in a belittling or patronizing manner, often implying that the person asking believes they know better.
• Example: An audience member asks, “Do you even understand the basics of this topic?”
• Maintain professionalism: Respond with professionalism and confidence, avoiding any temptation to match the condescension.
• Address the question’s substance: Focus on providing a well-informed and concise response to demonstrate your expertise.

9. Overly Technical Questions:

• Challenge: In technical or specialized discussions, questions may become overly complex, making it challenging for a broader audience to follow.
• Example: A highly technical question filled with industry-specific jargon is asked in a general audience setting.
• Simplify the response: Offer a simplified explanation or analogy to make the answer accessible to a broader audience.
• Offer follow-up resources: Suggest additional reading or resources for those interested in delving deeper into the technical details.

Handling these challenging question scenarios effectively requires a combination of good communication skills, patience, and tact. Remember that the goal is to maintain a productive and respectful dialogue with your audience while addressing their concerns and inquiries.

People Also Ask:

Why is it important to know how to take the audience’s questions when you are presenting.

It is crucial to know how to handle audience questions when presenting for several reasons. Firstly, audience questions signify engagement and interest in your topic, making it an opportunity to further connect with your audience and demonstrate your expertise. Secondly, addressing questions allows you to clarify any misunderstandings or provide additional context, ensuring that your message is well-received and understood. Moreover, handling questions effectively helps you maintain control over the presentation’s flow, ensuring that it stays on track and doesn’t deviate too far from your intended message. Lastly, audience questions can provide valuable feedback, enabling you to gauge the audience’s comprehension and adapt your presentation in real time if necessary, leading to a more successful and impactful presentation overall.

Who is responsible for answering questions from the audience at the time of the presentation?

The responsibility for answering questions from the audience during a presentation primarily falls on the presenter (most likely You). You’re the one who’s been preparing and practicing your presentation for weeks, months, or maybe even years. You’re the guru on the stage, the oracle of information. When those curious souls in the audience raise their hands or type away with their burning questions, it’s your time to shine. You get to flex your brain muscles and give them answers that will make their heads spin (in a good way, of course). It’s your duty to facilitate a productive Q&A session by actively listening to each question, providing thoughtful and accurate responses, and ensuring that the discussion remains relevant to the topic at hand. However, in some cases, especially during larger presentations or panel discussions, a moderator or facilitator may assist in managing the question-and-answer

In conclusion, mastering the art of Q&A, and handling audience questions like a pro, is a skill that can transform any presentation, discussion, or public speaking engagement. By understanding the diverse types of questions that may arise and adopting effective strategies to address them, you can create an interactive and engaging dialogue with your audience. From riddles that stimulate creativity to emotionally charged inquiries that demand empathy, each question offers a unique opportunity to connect, educate, and inspire. 

Remember, the key to success lies in active listening, clear communication, and maintaining composure, even in the face of challenging questions. Whether you’re a speaker, presenter, moderator, or simply someone engaged in a meaningful conversation, the ability to navigate difficult questions with finesse not only enhances your credibility but also fosters a more enriching and enlightening exchange of ideas. So, embrace the art of Q&A, and with practice and patience, you’ll continue to refine this valuable skill, ensuring that your interactions with your audience are both memorable and impactful.

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8 Ways to Handle Tough Q&A Sessions During Presentations

Written by: Ashish Arora

If you’ve ever given a presentation in front of a live audience, you probably know the Q&A session can feel scarier than the speech itself! That’s because while you can spend weeks preparing for your speech, the Q&A session is largely out of your control. And as we all know, anytime we don’t have full control, things can—and sometimes do—go wrong.

The key is to think of the Q&A session not as a potential snafu, but as another opportunity to show off your expertise, get immediate feedback and expand on your message. When you focus on taking advantage of this extra time with the audience, you put yourself in a mindset to further inspire and motivate attendees.

Read our top tips for handling tough Q&A sessions by  skipping ahead  or view the visual summary of this post below.

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Q&A Sessions: 3 Rules to Remember

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s first talk about what your ultimate goals for a successful Q&A should be:

Goal #1: Be a Responsible Speaker

Even though individual people are asking individual questions, your responsibility is to the entire group when answering all of them.

This leads us to goal number 2:

Goal #2: Keep an Eye on the Audience

Just as eye contact is critical throughout your presentation, it’s equally important during your Q&A session. Don’t just look at the person who asked the question, but always scan the entire audience so your answer really lands.

And that leads us to goal #3:

Goal #3: Make Connections

Every question asked is an opportunity to highlight your core message. Don’t just answer a question. Find ways to make a connection between the question and your content.

Now that you understand these three key principles, let’s move on to some ways you can handle Q&A sessions like a pro.

RELATED:  What Is Paralanguage? And How Can You Use It to Give Better Presentations?

1 Be prepared.

Eating half-priced sushi is never a good idea.

Know what else is a bad idea? Being unprepared for your Q&A session. Now you may be asking, “How can I be prepared for my Q&A when I don’t know what questions I’ll be asked?”

My “A” to your “Q” would be, “Are you sure you don’t know what you’ll be asked?” If you’re giving the presentation for the first time, consider showing it to friends, family and colleagues and have them ask you the toughest questions they can think of.

You may also want to spend some time searching Google using a variety of keywords related to your topic. This will bring up tons of relevant articles and blog posts where you can discover questions that have been answered within the content.

And finally, social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter are a daily Q&A hotbed, so be sure to spend time looking on there as well.

2 Separate the wheat from the chaff.

Once you’ve gathered a nice list of potential questions, you’ll want to separate them into two separate categories: those you can answer in your presentation, and those that you can’t.

The questions that can be answered in your presentation are essentially little indicators that you’ve left important information out. Go back through and weave these answers into your content.

Will this take a bit of time to ensure you keep the flow of your original speech? Yes, yes it will. However, neglecting to add this information will be a red flag for the audience, and may perhaps indicate that you’re not the expert you’ve claimed to be.

Those questions that are not directly related to your topic but sort of “hover” around it should not be weaved in, but you should prepare to answer them nonetheless. And don’t shy away from any curveballs. Those are the ones you should prepare for the most!

3 Provide contact information.

No matter how prepared you try to be for your Q&A, it is very possible that one or two questions may be asked that you have no answer to. Don’t feel pressured to give an answer if you really don’t have one, because chances are it will seem weak and thrown together, and you won’t really be helping your audience members.

In these situations, it’s much better to prepare a slide with your contact information on it. Should someone ask you something that requires more thought or research, simply show the slide and ask that person to contact you so you can present them with the right answer at a later date.

This contact slide is also a great way to keep on schedule. If questions are not slowing down, let your audience know your time is almost up but that they can contact you with whatever further questions they may have.

4  Schedule your Q&A session.

The majority of Q&A sessions take place at the end of a presentation, but sometimes they happen in the middle. Then again, maybe the speakers right before you invited people to ask questions all throughout their presentations.

Tell your audience up front when the Q&A session will take place. This will help you avoid being distracted and will also encourage your audience members to begin thinking of questions.

5 Repeat the question.

Sometimes when the audience is very large, the venue needs to be even larger. This causes the acoustics to be less than desirable. In some instances, maybe the acoustics are fine but the question being asked is a bit jumbled and complex. Whatever the situation, it’s always a good idea to repeat, and if necessary, rephrase the question for the benefit of the rest of the audience.

And, for those attendees who ask three questions in one, just focus on what is the most answerable or relates to your content. You could say, “I’d like to answer all of your questions—but because I know other people have questions as well—let me focus on that first point.”

RELATED:  5 Proven Ways to Get an Audience on Your Side

6 Have fun.

A study conducted by the Bell Leadership Institute found that the two most desirable traits in leaders (speakers are definitely leaders) are a strong work ethic and a good sense of humor. When you’re answering questions, feel free to crack some (appropriate) jokes.

This is especially important when someone asks an awkward question, just to see how you’ll handle it. Yes, those people exist, and you can’t let them get the best of you.

7 Don't let them see you sweat.

Remember those old Dry Idea commercials?  That catchphrase “Never Let Them See You Sweat” certainly applies to Q&A sessions. Don’t ever lose your cool with awkward questions, but instead, deflect any awkwardness with humor.

If, for whatever reason, a question should make you a bit angry, take a second, breathe, and regain your composure as best you can. The good news is, your attendees are there to learn from you, an expert in your field, so, more often than not, you should only be asked sincere questions.

8  Don’t attempt perfection.

We can’t talk about having fun without talking about NOT trying to be perfect in your Q&A session. Human beings make mistakes; we’re not perfect but rather lovely works in progress.

If you make a mistake in one of your answers, don’t panic. Simply make a joke of it and correct your information. The important thing is to never let a mistake throw you off course. How you handle a mistake will tell the audience a lot about your character.

RELATED:  20 Creative Presentation Ideas That Will Delight Your Audience

9  End your Q&A the right way.

You’ve worked hard and come this far, don’t just abruptly end your Q&A with a, “Are there any more questions ... okay, thank you,” and walk off the stage. Always end your Q&As by repeating the main themes or key content points of your presentation. This will leave your audience with your overall message in mind.

Whether it’s an auditorium full of people or just a few team members in the conference room, handling a Q&A session like a pro will help you enforce your message and establish your credibility. Remember, since most Q&As happen at the end of a presentation, how you handle it will have a lasting impact on your audience members.

If you want to learn all our secrets on how to deliver an unforgettable presentation (as well as how to create visual slides with impact), grab our free e-book below.

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About the Author

Ashish Arora is the Co-Founder of SketchBubble.com , a leading provider of result-driven, professionally built presentation templates. Travelling the world to gather new creative ideas, he has been working in the digital marketing space since 2007 and has a passion for designing presentations. You can also find him on  Twitter or  LinkedIn .

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The Question & Answer (or Q&A) session happens at the end of your presentation—audience members are free to ask you questions about your content and your ideas, and you have the chance to show how well you know your research.

But what happens if someone asks a tough question?

In this section, we'll look at how to handle audience questions so you can feel more in control of the situation.

Tips for Answering Questions in a Presentation

Make sure you understand the question and that you've heard everything the person wants to learn.

Re-state the question in your own words and have the person confirm that you've heard and understood their question. For example, you could say, "Are you asking…?" or "Did you mean…?" before rephrasing the person's question.

Be direct and honest. If you don't know the answer, that's okay too, but you should try your best to respond in a way that will satisfy the person who asked you the question.

Use a story that is relatable to the audience to build a better connection with your audience.

If someone asks you a difficult question, don't get rattled! Make sure you're polite, professional, and courteous. Be prepared for your presentation—think about what people might ask you during your presentation and either include the content in your session or leave it for the Q&A.

How to Handle Different Types of Questions

Handling questions from audience members can be one of the most difficult aspects of presenting your work. So, what kinds of questions might come up during your Q&A session?

Check the boxes below to learn more about a few different types of questions and how to handle them.

Direct Questions

Direct questions are the typical questions we use when we want information. Direct questions require direct answers. You want to be clear and concise with your response, and you'll likely only need one sentence to answer the question.

There are three types of direct questions:

• True/False (Yes/No) : You either confirm or deny what the questioner has asked you.
• Multiple Choice : You state which option is true based on two or more choices included in the question.
• Fill in the Blank : Your answer will provide missing information for the questioner.

Hostile Questions

Hostile questions are often designed to challenge the narrative, structure, and conclusions of your presentation. These types of questions can range from annoying comments or rude interruptions to mild differences of opinion to highly charged challenges.

It's important to handle these kinds of disagreeable questions without getting hostile back. Remember: You have the power to control and optimize these difficult situations.

Types of Hostile Questions

Four common types of hostile questions include:

Example: "Your conclusion here is unrealistic, don't you think so?"

With these types of questions, you can respond with a simple “No,” immediately followed by a recap of the issue under consideration.

For example: "No, my conclusion is based on… and…"

In this case, long answers can be effective for diffusing the hostility. Maintain a neutral expression, and maintain eye contact with the questioner. Focus on the issue at hand and use this time to reinforce your ideas. Don’t let your emotions dictate your response.

Example: "How can you suggest such a flawed idea to solve this issue?"

What's essential about your response here is that you do not repeat the inflammatory word (in this case, it would be "flawed"). Keep a cool head, and summarize the issue without repeating the word that the questioner used.

For example: You might start your response saying, “The issue at hand is what impact this solution will have on our user group going forward… ”

You can then use this time to provide more information about how you came to this solution for this particular user group. Respond on your terms, not the terms of the questioner.

Example: "What kinds of sources did you look at to come to your conclusion?"

This type of hostile question is difficult to convey in a written form because they will sound similar to a direct question. The question is not using any inflammatory words or asking you to agree with a negative, but the question may still be hostile depending on the tone

In these situations, ignore the tone and respond as if the question was asked in a completely straightforward way–as difficult as that may be. Stay calm and give the questioner the information in a simple, direct way.

Example: "Given your background and limited knowledge on this subject, why did you even choose this topic for your presentation?"

Negative preconditions refer to the inclusion of negative assumptions or statements about the presenter or their work before the question is even asked. By framing the question in a negative way first, the presenter is then put into a defensive position, which makes it harder to provide a confident or satisfactory answer.

Similar to inflammatory trigger words, try to ignore the negative preconditions and focus exclusively on the issue at hand.

For example: "During this project I learned… which has a major impact on… As I stated earlier in the presentation, I was drawn to this topic because of… and… which has helped me…"

It's important to note that these kinds of negative preconditions are not constructive or helpful in the classroom—ideally, your professor will confront the person who asked a question like this!

Multi-Part Questions

Multi-part questions are questions that have multiple distinct parts or sub-questions. Instead of asking a single, straightforward question, the questioner will weave together different inquires in the same question.

For example: "I appreciated that your project focused on renewable energy sources—I was curious about a few things: What are the advantages of those sources in Ontario? Are they more expensive than our current energy solutions? What's their potential for widespread adoption here?"

As a presenter, it can be difficult to keep track of all these different questions—in most cases, the questioner genuinely wants more information, but they know you'll only have time to call on them once during the Q&A session.

You can approach this situation by answering each part separately. It can help to pretend a different questioner asked each question. Make sure that you're concise with your answers so that other audience members can ask their questions as well.

If you're having trouble remembering each part of the multi-part question, you can ask: "Could you remind me of your next question?" There's nothing wrong with briefly asking the questioner to repeat a part of their question—it shows that you care about providing a complete answer for your audience.

Long-winded 'Questions'

Long-winded 'questions' are more of an experience than a question.

In this situation, an audience member will flood you with their opinions or personal stories and there may or may not be a question tacked on to the end of their speech—but you're still expected to respond to them.

For example: "This is more of a comment, but your presentation reminded me of a project I worked on where I had to… It's refreshing to see someone else explore this topic, I only just learned about it last term when we… I was hoping to learn more about… I added something similar in my presentation for… … …"

A simple way to handle this situation is to acknowledge the higher-level, big picture ideas in what the person has said, and to then talk to the central idea of their 'question'. You don't need to address all the smaller opinions or ideas the person has shared—just stay focused on the key ideas or arguments from your presentation.

You could start by saying, "Clearly, there are a lot of issues going on here. Overall, I would say…" and then either answer the question or summarize your key ideas in about 2-3 sentences. Then you can move on to the next questioner.

Watch the video below to learn about the tone you should use during your Q&A session. You'll also learn specific phrases you can use to clarify questions or communicate when you're not sure about an answer.

Tips to Run a Successful Q&A Session

Successful presenters prepare for the Q&A session with the same focus and detail as their presentations—this is a chance for you share extra details, clarify any confusion, and make a great last impression on your audience.

Check the boxes below to learn what you should do before and during your presentation to create a smooth, successful Q&A!

Before Your Presentation

You might not know exactly which questions you'll be asked during your Q&A session, but there are still ways you can prepare yourself.

Try the following three techniques before your next presentation:

Work out the answers to these questions as you're working on your presentation—these questions can help you figure out where you might need to do more research. Decide which questions you'll incorporate into your presentation, and which ones you'll leave to the Q&A session.

Test out your presentation with a friend, a family member, or a tutor at Sheridan's Tutoring Centre . Ideally, you want to test your presentation on someone with little to no knowledge about your topic—they can help point out areas that aren't clear so you can add more detail. You can book a free tutoring appointment on TutorOcean .

Spend time practicing your answers by speaking them out loud. The more you prepare, the more natural you will sound during your Q&A session!

During Your Q&A Session

Use an open-ended question (e.g., "Who has the first question?" "What topic should we start discussing?") rather than a 'yes/no' question (e.g., "Are there any questions?" to get the conversation started.

If you've waited about 30 seconds and no one is asking a question, you could start the Q&A by talking about something that interested you in you research. For example, "When I started my research, I had a lot of questions about 'X'. A key part of 'X' is…"

Repeating questions serves two main functions: First, it allows you to clarify what the questioner has asked; second, it helps to make sure your audience has heard the question.

You don't need a quick answer for everything—give yourself the chance to think about what the questioner has asked, what you know about the topic, and what information might help the questioner.

Aim for 2-3 sentences in your answer. If you feel like your answer needs to be longer, offer a summary of your ideas in 2-3 sentences and then offer to either talk to the questioner after your presentation or to e-mail the questioner (or the class) with a longer response.

It's better to say, "I don't know, but let me look that up and I'll send a note to the class" than it is to make up an inaccurate or misleading answer.

If someone asks you a difficult question, respond calmly and politely. Help the questioner feel heard by briefly acknowledging their concern or point or question, and then offer to follow up with them after the Q&A session is over.

End your Q&A session by thanking everyone for their thought-provoking questions. Make sure that you return the favour by engaging with your classmates during the Q&A session of their presentations too!

• Last Updated: Sep 12, 2024 3:49 PM
• URL: https://sheridancollege.libguides.com/presentationskills

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Presentation Questions: How to handle difficult questions during a presentation?

Getting through a presentation without some form of Q&A is extremely rare. For many people it’s the moment that they dread in anticipation of being asked a difficult question or one they just can’t answer. Presenting in itself isn’t easy, most of us spend a vast amount of time preparing and practicing exactly what we plan to say. If you’re not prepared for questions or don’t know how to answer the tough ones whilst retaining your professionalism and credibility it’s even harder. There is however a great deal that you can do to help you.

Presentation Skills: How to answer those killer questions

6 Presentation Tips to Answer Questions With Confidence

12 Tactics for handling challenging public speaking situations

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How to deal with questions during your presentation without getting stumped even if you don’t have all the answers

by Kolarele Sonaike

You work all night on your presentation, create some cool PowerPoint slides, and then nail the delivery on the day.

Your speech flows sweetly, the audience is hooked on every word, and it’s all going better than you imagined it possibly could. and then you spot him; that annoying contrarian guy with the loud voice; the one who prides himself on always taking the opposite point of view to everyone else. he is raising his hand to ask a question you know is going to be difficult. what do you do.

Questions. Questions. Let’s talk about how to deal with questions. Standing up to speak in front of an audience is hard enough in its own right. But questions make the job doubly hard. You have no control over what is asked, the question is often based on a false premise, and yet it feels like everyone expects you to have the perfect answer.

How on earth do you deal with that?

It’s no wonder that handling questions often feels tougher than the actual speaking part.

But imagine if you knew how to deal with questions confidently, without getting flustered, and in a way that enhances your reputation, even when you don’t really know the answer.

“Impossible. No way, Kola!” I hear you say.

“Way!”, I tell ya. “Way!”

But to achieve this seemingly impossible feat, you first have to reframe your belief about your objective when dealing with questions.

Here it is: Your true worry when it comes to how to deal with questions is NOT that you won’t know the answer! It really isn’t.

“What! Yes, it is, Kola. That’s exactly what I’m worried about!”

“No, it really isn’t”

“Yes, it really is.

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is “

“It’s not”

“Is too”

“Is”

OK. This could go on forever, so just suspend your disbelief and hear me out.

We all have it. The fear of being found out. The worry that today will be the day they finally realise that you’re not the expert you project yourself as being.

When you understand that how well you answer the question itself is much less important than how effectively you can project yourself as an authority. This will change the way you approach how to deal with questions and Q&As.

You are not an impostor! You know your stuff!

Even if you don’t know everything, you know more than most other people in the room.

Even if there are some in the room that actually know more about the subject than you, you know enough to be able to handle their questions.

There is no one objective standard by which you will be judged. No one is standing watching your performance with a tick chart to give you a pass or fail. No one is going to sentence you to 10 years hard labour if you don’t know every answer. All your audience will decide in their minds is whether you seemed like you knew what you were talking about, of whether you didn’t. No one question or answer matters. It’s about the overall impression you create.

So, quit worrying about being found out. You won’t be…especially if you follow these Five Golden Principles on how to deal with questions like a rockstar.

(If you need to improve your communication skills, my workshop might help: 5 Communication SuperSkills that will change your career if you use them (and stall your career if you don’t)

And please share this article with someone you know that needs to improve their Q&As.

PRINCIPLE #1: KNOW YOUR STUFF

OK, I know I said you don’t have to know everything, but you do still need to know your stuff. There is no substitution for this.

If you do have the time to prepare, then prepare you should. Do your research. Study your subject. Try to make sure you actually are the most knowledgeable person about your subject in the room. It will mean that when the questions come, you have a big reservoir of knowledge to draw on and this will give you a sense of authority during the Q&A.

Knowing your stuff isn’t the same as knowing everything. It’s about knowing enough to be able to talk confidently in front of people.

PRINCIPLE #2: PREDICT THE QUESTIONS

This is such an obvious one but very often speakers forget to do it.

Try to predict the questions and work out what answers you will give if they come up.

As a young barrister starting out, we had to learn about cross-examination, which is the single most difficult skill every barrister has to master. What we learnt was that the most important element, above charisma, voice projection and cleverness, was making sure you never asked a question to which you don’t already know the answer. When you first start learning the skill, this seems impossible, but then you realise that with careful preparation and analysis, it actually is possible to predict with nearly 100% accuracy what a witness is going to say before they actually say it.

That’s why you should always be careful what you say to lawyers. We are a crafty bunch!

Ask yourself: “What are the most likely questions that people could ask?” Ideally, work out your Top Ten. Don’t be easy on yourself with only softball questions. Think about the hard ones too.

Write them down.  Then work out your answers. Chances are that every question that comes up, will be one of the ones you had already predicted. Feel free to ham it up and pretend like that is the first time you’ve had to think about that question; and then give your brilliant answer.

Simples! (but highly effective).

PRINCIPLE #3: PRIME YOUR AUDIENCE BEFOREHAND

Before you even get up to speak, you should prime your audience.

If it is possible, mingle with your audience beforehand. Discuss some of the elements of your talk to start framing their opinions. If you know some individuals within your audience well, you can even plant some questions and tell them you may call on them during the Q&A.

This is a great option on two fronts.

ii) Secondly, it helps you avoid the one thing that’s worse than hard questions, which is no questions at all. There’s nothing worse than opening the floor for questions and hearing nothing but crickets and tumbleweed.

PRINCIPLE #4: SET THE GROUND RULES

You’re the speaker, so you’re the boss!

You get to control the format of the Q&A. Do you want people to wait until the end, or will you allow questions all the way through? You decide.

You should also set the rules on the manner of questions. Ask people to keep their questions short so that more people can get to ask theirs. You can also remind them to only ask questions rather than making statements.

Setting the ground rules before the questioning begins, is all about creating the right environment to stack the deck in your favour.

PRINCIPLE #5: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUESTIONERS

There are basically 4 different categories of questioners and each of them are best dealt with in different ways.

1) The Genuine Questioner: this person has a genuine question and actually want to know the answer. Dealing with them is a pleasure because they typically ask questions well within the range of questions you can predict. They exist to make you look good so treat them nicely.

How to deal with questions from the Genuine Questioner: Tackle their questions head-on. They are genuinely interested in what you have to say. If you know the answer they will be grateful. If you don’t they won’t be judgmental.

2) The Show Off : this person isn’t interested in you or your answer. In fact, they don’t even care about the question they asked. Their (not so secret) aim is to show how clever they are. The question they ask is designed to do only one thing. Show off their own knowledge.

The good thing about questions from the Show Off is that everyone in the audience knows what they’re doing. Your answer to the question isn’t anywhere nearly as important as the way you actually handle the situation.

How to deal with questions from the Show Off : Fundamentally, the show-off is harmless. They aren’t attacking you or trying to show you up. They just need a little limelight. Treat their question with respect and respond to their question as best you can. You can even ask for their own opinion. They will happily oblige and be grateful to you for the opportunity. When they sit down, they’ll think you were great and everyone else will see you as generous for dealing with a show-off so magnanimously.

3) The Passive-Aggressive – this is the most dangerous questioner of all. Their manner is outwardly friendly but inwardly deadly. The question seems innocuous but the subconscious motive is to show you up.

How to deal with questions from the passive-aggressive: This is all about not taking the bait. However hard it feels, don’t rise to it. Don’t take the bait. Keep your ego in check.

If you attack the questioner, they will do what passive-aggressives do when attacked: play the ‘why are you so upset?’ card. Then they’ll continue their attack from the higher moral ground and some will fall for it.

Don’t let it go there. You already have all the power as the speaker, you don’t need to prove it in every instance. Stake your claim to the higher ground and ignore the subtle attack.

Treat the question as a genuine one even though you know it’s actually an attack. Give your answer with total courtesy. You’ll diffuse the attack by not reacting to it. Everyone will respect your restraint and give you even greater credit, whether you are able to really answer the question or not.

It’s the subtle art of fighting without fighting.

4) The Hostile Questioner – This Questioner is prepared to make a brazen and open attack. They might challenge any part of your message or just attack you personally. Either way, it is open warfare and an attempt to bully.

In this situation, there really is only one way to deal with a bully. Stand up to them. Stand firm. Shut them down and deny them the satisfaction. Everyone recognises that their intent and impact are negative, and no one wants you to give in to it.

Fortunately, you have the floor, which is the ultimate weapon.

Of course, if you actually know the answer to the question, then answer it authoritatively to put the questioner in his or her place.

Otherwise, you can decline to answer the question and invite them to speak to you afterwards. You can make your answer super short and simply move on to another person.

Very often, because their intent is focused on attacking you, they will not have thought about defence. The premise of their question may be completely flawed, in which case you can go on the offensive and attack that premise. It’s fair game.

The key is not to allow the Hostile to dominate the Q&A and also to move onto someone else as quickly as possible.

Here’s that workshop link again – https://www.greatspeech.co/workshop/

SOME USEFUL DOS & DON’TS

Buy time when you need to:  Repeat the question to give yourself time to think.

Reframe the question:  Paraphrase the question but frame it in a way that fits with the answer you want to give. It’s a bit of a politician’s trick so use it only as a last resort, but it’s a way of being able to speak confidently even though you didn’t necessarily know the answer to the original question.

Don’t be condescending:  Even if it is a great question, don’t say ‘great question’. It sounds hollow and you can achieve the same or a better impact with alternatives like “I hadn’t thought about it from that point of view” or “that’s actually a timely questions because…”

Explore the issue:  If you don’t have the answer, just talk about it with the questioner. Explore the issue openly and complement the questioner for having raised an interesting topic.

Body language:  Step forward towards your audience when you answer. It subtly signals that you are direct and with them. And so, make sure you don’t unwittingly step or lean back when asked a question. That signals the opposite.

Don’t lie:  If you don’t know, don’t lie, just be honest about that. Everyone can spot a flounderer. You’re best bet is to be honest and take the hit.

Questions can be a challenge but they don’t need to be a problem.

Follow the 5 Golden Principles on how to deal with questions, and your reputation will only grow stronger. Although that probably means you’ll be asked even more questions, so use it wisely.

Kolarele Sonaike

p.s. when you are ready to start working on your communication skills, be sure to check out my Communication SuperSkills workshop

p.p.s. you may also like to read 17 Public Speaking Mistakes guaranteed to putt your audience in a coma

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How to deal with difficult questions in a presentation

By: Alex Case | Category: Business Communications | Topic: Presentation Skills

Last Updated: 15th Oct. 2023

Tactics and phrases for dealing with tricky questions in a presentation Q&A

Filling silence by checking the question

Filling silence by commenting on the question, politely asking people to wait in presentation q&a sessions, asking questions to yourself in the q&a, answering q&a questions while still thinking/ before deciding what to say, mentioning what you said earlier, showing how unsure your answer is, politely not answering questions in presentations, offering to answer the question another way, checking if your answer was okay, thanking the audience for difficult questions at the end.

The Q&A is the most nerve-racking part of the already stressful experience of standing up in front of an audience and presenting, and the worst part of that is getting difficult questions. However, there are several tactics which can help with dealing with tricky questions smoothly:

• Fill silence/ Think out loud
• Show how unsure your answer is
• Politely not answer the question

After that, you will probably want to check if your answer is okay or offer to answer another way, and finally thank the audience for the (difficult) questions. This article gives tips and phrases for each of those steps, in that order. For practice of this and other parts of the presentation opening, body and ending, see https://www.usingenglish.com/e-books/teaching-presentation-skills/

Filling silence in the presentation Q&A

Perhaps the least stressful situation for the presenter is being able to send the question back to the audience member as they check the meaning of the question/ what the questioner wants to know. If you have some idea what the question is, the best questions are those which explain your understanding to the questioner and double-check it, such as:

• (Before I answer, can I check exactly what you want to know?) Are you asking…?
• (So,) do you mean…?
• (So) if I understand correctly, your question is…
• (So) if I understand your question correctly, you want to know…
• If I understand, what you want to know is… (Is that right?)
• If I understand you correctly, you are asking…
• (Can I just double-check?) Is your question…?

As long as you don’t use this too much in one Q&A session, this can also be a good tactic for delaying your answer, even when you are 99% sure what the question means.

If you have more problems understanding what the question is, it’s best to avoid generally phrases like “Pardon?” and “Sorry, I didn’t catch that” as much as possible and instead be specific about what the problem is, with questions like:

• (Sorry) I don’t really understand what you mean by…/ What do you mean by…?
• (Sorry, I couldn’t catch that.) Could you (possibly) repeat the question (just one more time/ a little more slowly/ a little more loudly)?
• (Sorry) can you put that another way?/ could you rephrase the question?

The parts in brackets above are optional, but good for further filling time if you need time to think.

When the questioner has confirmed, repeated and/ or explained the meaning of their question, you can then use perhaps the simplest and most useful tactic for filling silence before answering, which is commenting on the question. However, you should avoid repeating the same phrases and make sure that the comment really matches the question, so you’ll need a range of different phrases for this. 

The simplest commenting on the question phrases follow the pattern “(That’s a/ an) … question”, as in:

• Good question.
• That’s a great question. Well,…
• That’s an interesting question.
• That’s a (rather/ pretty) difficult/ complex/ big/ deep/ philosophical question (but…)

Similar comments on the question include:

• That’s a tricky one.
• (That’s a) good point.
• Thank you for that (very interesting/ great) question.

Another easy pattern is “I’m (so/ really) … that you asked me that”, as in:

• I’m delighted that you asked me that question.
• I’m (so/ very) glad you asked me that.

A similar but also kind of opposite phrase is the jokey one “(Wow!) I was hoping no one would ask me that!”

You can also comment on how common/ likely such a question is with:

• I (should have) expected that question.
• I (kind of) expected someone might ask me that.
• (Ah yes) I thought someone might ask me that.
• I was (kind of) expecting that question.
• No one has ever asked me that before.
• I’m often asked that question.
• I’m sure many people have the same question.

You can also kind of apologise, in comments like:

• (Sorry) I should have explained that earlier.
• (Actually) I was planning to mention that earlier.
• (Sorry) it seems (that) I didn't explain myself (very) clearly.

The parts in brackets above are again useful for filling time/ silence, with these starters being particularly useful:

The most direct way of filling silence is asking people to wait. The most common and easiest to use phrases are “Just a… while…” and “Just a…, I’m …ing (…)”, as in:

• Just a moment while I get that up on the screen again. Sorry, just one more page. Here it is. Well,…
• Just a minute. I’m just trying to remember. Well,…
• Just a second while I have a look in my notes. I’m pretty sure I have it in here somewhere. Just one more moment. Got it. Okay,…
• Just a sec’ while I think of the best way to explain. Well,...
• Just a mo’. Got that right here.

Expressions with verbs in the imperative like “Wait…” are less generally useful as they can sound like commands, but there are some which are quite common:

• (Okay) just give a second to find the right graph.
• Just hold on a second while I find the right part of the table.
• Let me just take a look at my notes.
• (Hmmmm.) Let me think.
• (Errmmm.) Let me see.

A pattern which is generally more polite is phrases starting with “If” like:

• If I can just go back a couple of slides to look at that chart in more detail,…
• If you can just give me a second, I’ll do a quick calculation.

As long as you avoid repeating, it’s possible to string the expressions above together to fill all the time necessary for you to think of a good answer, as in:

• Sorry, if you can give me a moment to try to think of the best answer to that. Just a moment. Hmmmm. Let me think. Let me see. Well,…

Another obvious tactic for filling time, and one that goes perfectly after “Let me see” in the string of asking people to wait phrases above, is asking yourself a question, as in:

• (… Let me see.) What’s the best way to answer that (question)? Well,…
• How can I best answer that? Well,…

After or instead of directly asking people to wait, you can also use phrases which seem to be the start of the answer but are in fact also there just to fill time, as in:

• Perhaps the best answer to that is…
• I can (perhaps) answer that by saying…
• (I don’t have the exact figures at the moment, but/ Off the top of my head) I would probably say that…

This is similar to the tip above, in that it looks like a part of the answer but is just as useful for filling time while the presenter is thinking. These phrases often start with “As”, as in:

• As I (think I) (briefly) mentioned (earlier),…
• As I said in my introduction/ in the last part of my presentation/ in…,…
• As you might remember from the… part of my presentation,…

“Remember” is another useful key word, as in:

• (I didn’t explain this in detail, but) you may remember that I talked about…
• Do you remember that we saw…? Well,…

Finally, there are phrases which include words linking two things together like “related”, as in:

• Following on from what I said in the… part of my presentation,…
• That’s related to…, where I said…
• This is connected to what I said about…

These kinds of phrases can also be used to extend your answers and so give yourself thinking time. However, the main purposes are to show the questioner how confident they can be in your answer and so to cover yourself if it turns out that your answer is not 100% accurate. This often starts with a reason why your answer cannot be completely relied upon, as in:

• I’m no expert on this, but…
• I didn’t research this, but…
• I don’t remember very well, but…
• It was a long time ago, but…
• This is not really my area, but…
• I don’t have that information with me at the moment, but…
• I don’t have any actual data on that, but...
• I think I’m in the minority on this one, but…
• I don’t know what other people think about this, but…
• I don’t have enough time to go into this in detail, but…
• It’s quite difficult to explain without the mathematical equations, but…
• I don’t know what our company’s official position on this is, but…

Then comes the phrase saying how sure or unsure you are. These include, in approximate order of certainty:

• I’m almost completely certain that…
• I’m fairly sure/ fairy confident that…
• We may well/ might well…
• There’s a fair chance that…
• It’s possible that…
• It’s conceivable that…
• We can’t rule out the possibility of…

In some situations, the reasons given above for unsure answers can instead be reasons for not answering questions at all, for example if you are a researcher who doesn’t want to speculate on things outside your own area or if it isn’t a good idea to speak on company matters related to other departments. Other reasons for not answering include confidentiality, that topic is coming up later anyway, nothing coming to mind, and one questioner dominating the Q&A. Suitable first words for politely not answering include:

• I’m sorry but…
• I’m afraid…
• Unfortunately,…
• I hope you can understand that…
• As you might have guessed…
• As you can imagine…

You might sometimes then want to politely but directly say that you can’t answer, as in:

• I can’t answer that at this moment in time.
• I’m not able to share that information.
• I don’t have an answer to that question.
• I’m not in a position to be able to answer that question at this moment in time.

After or instead of directly saying that you can’t answer, you will need to give a reason for not answering the question, as in:

• I can’t find that information in my notes.
• I can’t remember that off the top of my head.
• I didn’t bring that data with me today./ I don’t have the data here.
• I didn’t do (much/ any) research on that.
• I didn’t research that (topic) (in much detail)
• I don’t have any (actual) data on that.
• I don’t have that information with me (at the moment/ today).
• I don’t (really) have (enough) time to go into detail.
• I think some other people would also like to ask questions./ Some other people also have their hands up.
• I’ll have to think about that.
• It might take me too long to answer that.
• My answer might take longer than we have available.
• My mind has gone blank at the moment
• That information is confidential.
• That question is rather specialist.
• That’s a bit (too) complex to go into in the time available.
• That’s a bit (too) deep to go into right now.
• That’s a bit too detailed to go into at the moment.
• That’s not really my area.
• There’s something on that in the next section of my presentation.

If you don’t want not answering the question to be too negative for the audience, you should usually then offer to answer the question another way. Such offers could include emailing the questioner, answering by email if the questioner emails you, speaking face to face after the presentation, getting someone else to answer it, and allowing them to ask again later in the presentation. Typical phrases for offering to answer Q&A questions another way include:

• (If you give me your email address,) can I email it to you later?/ I’ll email you (in the next few days/ later today/…).
• Can I get back to you later?
• Can you ask me that again later if I don’t answer it then?
• Can you come up later to talk about it individually?
• I’d love to (be able to) talk about it (later) in person.
• (If you email me at this address,) I’ll answer your question as quickly as I can.
• I’ll be happy to explain it in more detail later.
• (Can I see if anyone else has any questions and then) I’ll come back to you later.
• I’ll do my best to answer your question then.
• I’ll get back to you (about that) (as soon as I can/ later/…)
• My colleague over here might know/ can probably answer that better than me.

Much less commonly, you can also occasionally answer about something close to but not the same as the topic of the question, with phrases like:

• Shall I tell you about… instead?

If you did manage to answer their question (however inadequately), you should then check if your answer is okay. This is usually best done with Yes/ No questions like:

• Does that answer your question?
• Is that what you wanted to know?/ Was that what you wanted to know?
• Is that (a bit) clearer now?
• Is that enough information (on that)?

If you are too scared that such a question could lead to a negative answer and/ or another difficult question, you can make a statement that has a similar function like:

• I hope that answers your question.
• I hope that’s a little clearer now.
• Sorry for not explaining that better before.

Unless you really want to have more difficult questions, I’d suggest avoiding negative questions like “…or wasn’t that what you wanted to know?” and “… or not?”

“Thanks for your difficult question” is a rather strange way to finish a Q&A and/ or the whole presentation, but you can use similar phrases like “Thanks for all your great questions. It will give me a lot to mull on when I get home tonight” and “Thanks for all your really thought-provoking questions. They’ve given me several ideas for possible future presentation topics!”

Copyright © 2020 Alex Case

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com

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Communication Skills for Dealing with Difficult Questions

When it comes to dealing with difficult questions, we’ve all been there… You’ve survived your presentation. You’ve delivered all your content, and you feel like things went well. Then, you utter the daring phrase, “Are there any questions?” That’s when you feel your confidence slip away.

So, how do you handle difficult questions? The following three-step process will help keep your confidence up and position you as the expert you are.

• Listen to the entire question. Don’t start formulating your answer until the questioner has finished.
• Repeat or rephrase the question to the entire audience. Shorten the question and use more neutral language to remove hostility and emotion.
• Answer the question. Be honest, concise, and answer to the entire group.

When you’ve completed the Q&A session, go back and repeat the conclusion and action steps from your presentation. This helps leave the audience on a positive note, telling them your presentation was good for them and what they need to do next.

For more information, watch this video of Sheri explaining the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6niJtEZtuY

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Guide for Handling Questions after a Presentation

October 19, 2017 - Dom Barnard

The questions at the end of a presentation can be terrifying for many speakers as they can’t be controlled and are hard to prepare for. However, questions form an important part of the presentation for the whole audience as they allow for clarification and consolidation of learning.

The presenter can enhance the usefulness of the question and answer session by treating it as a formal part of the presentation that requires as much careful planning and control as the delivery of the core material.

Identify possible questions and scope in your preparation

The background work that you undertook whilst planning your presentation is the key to handling questions effectively and understanding what  type of audience  you’ll be faced with. If you have defined a focus for your presentation and have explored this thoroughly in your research and planning, you are more likely to be able to confidently respond to questions.

When planning your presentation, you will need to prepare prompts for questions that are open and straightforward, for example saying “That’s the end of my presentation. I’ll be taking questions for the next 10 minutes”.

You might also want to define topics for discussion before taking questions, by stating the areas you’re willing to field questions in. Your preparation will help you identify topics you are not confident with and want to avoid in the questioning.

Set some rules for asking questions

At the start of your presentation, make it clear when you would prefer to deal with questions – as you go along or at the end of the presentation.

Some speakers prefer questions to be raised as they arise during the presentation. The advantage of this approach is that any misunderstandings can be dealt with immediately. However, there is also a danger that the question will disrupt or distract the speaker, or that questions are raised that would have been covered later in the presentation.

If you leave questions until the end, plan to leave plenty of time for questions so that the audience doesn’t feel rushed.

Framework for responding to questions

Answering questions under pressure can make you say things you shouldn’t have – the nerves can force you to give an inappropriate response. In your panic you might have misinterpreted the question or given away company information that was sensitive. Use the following framework to help you respond effectively to your audience.

Practice answering AI-generated questions on your speech or presentation with  VirtualSpeech .

1. Listen to the whole question

You don’t have to answer a question immediately. Pause for a few seconds,  actively listen  to all parts of the question and think about the best way to answer.

Frequently questions can change direction at the last moment, particularly if the questioner is thinking on their feet. This can throw you if you have already started to prepare an answer. Remember that questioners will frequently try to make a point whilst asking their question – it’s therefore important to both hear the content of the question and try to decipher the questioner’s intention.

2. Understand the context

If you are worried that you haven’t understood a question, ask them to clarify what they mean. Check for confirmation by paraphrasing the question back to the questioner – “You want me to list the improvements of X?”.

3. Involve the whole audience

It is important to remember that even though you are taking a question from one member of the audience, you are still responsible for the interest of the other audience members. This is particularly important in large groups as the audience will become bored if the presentation descends into a series of one-to-one discussions.

To involve the rest of the audience, make sure the whole audience has heard and understood the question by repeating it or paraphrasing it to the audience.

4. Respond concisely

When you reply to a question, direct your answer to both the questioner and other members of the audience. Try to keep your responses as focused as possible, leaving space for other questions. To avoid going into too much detail, check back with the questioner to see if you have answered their query – “Does that answer your question in enough detail?”.

We’ll cover different ways to respond in a later section.

5. Allow follow-up questions via email

You can also encourage your audience to ask questions after the event has finished by providing your email address. This shows a high level of respect for your audience and implies that the topic still has much further scope for enquiry.

Two good resources for handling questions

• What’s the art of answering a tricky question?
• Dodging the Question

Practice Answering Questions

Practice answering questions after your presentation using a 4 step process. Learn More

Options for answering the question

There are five possible choices depending on how well you understand and can answer the question. It’s okay to say that you don’t know the answer to something. This can add to your credibility instead of trying to waffle through an answer you don’t really know.

If you have a good answer for the question from the audience, go ahead and answer it in a short and clear message.

Ask a question back the audience member, such as “Can you clarify what you mean by that”. You can also attack the question if it is not related to the issue, factually inaccurate, personal or based on false assumptions. Be careful with this method.

Ask the question back to the audience or pass it to another panel member if possible. If suitable, another technique is to imply the question has been asked already, with you stating you don’t want to cover old ground.

Tell the audience member you will talk to them after the event. This gives you more time to think of a good answer and there is less pressure to give a perfect answer.

Or mention that that point is coming up in a slide.

This involves answering the question but changing the subject. You can also give a partial answer or give a negative answer, saying that something else will happen instead.

Avoid answering questions that fall outside of the remit of your talk: “I’m afraid that really falls outside of my objectives for today’s presentation. Perhaps we can resume discussion of that particular point later?”

Diagram Explained : Once you receive a question, you’ll have a few moments to think about it and reframe it in a way that makes sense to you. This will give you five choices on how to react – you can answer, reflect, deflect, defer or change the scope of the question. Once you’ve answered concisely, you can then follow up to check if the person asking the question is satisfied and then continue with the presentation.

Strategies to use when struggling to answer

Here are some strategies to use when you are struggling to answer the question posed to you. For more information, read this article on  Dodging the Question .

• Acknowledge the question without answering it – “That’s a good question, let’s consider the impact by looking at…”
• The question fails to tackle the important issue.
• The question is based on a false assumption.
• The question is factually inaccurate.
• The question is too personal or objectionable.
• Decline to answer. Refuse to answer on the basis that it is not your area of responsibility or it is sensitive company information – “You will have to ask [name] because I wasn’t involved in that particular project.”
• Partial answer
• Start to answer but change the subject
• Negative answer. You state what won’t happen instead of what will happen
• Answer a similar question
• State or imply the question has already been answered – “We’ve already covered that topic”

Things to avoid

When handling questions and answers, you will still need to be as professional as you have been for the main delivery of your presentation. There are some common dangers to avoid.

Answering the question you wished you’d been asked

A common trick played by politicians, this strategy ignores the precise nature of the question and uses a predetermined answer to the broad topic area. If handled poorly, this technique is very obvious to the audience and frustrating to the questioner.

Giving a lengthy response

This is the process whereby you make a lengthy response, including all the information you’d left out in planning the main presentation. Your unplanned response will be unstructured and rambling, so keep things focused and brief. If you find yourself rambling, ask them to talk to you after.

Passing the blame

Passing the blame to others comes across as weak and evasive. If an idea from the audience is a good one, acknowledge its value. If it isn’t, make a polite rebuttal and move on.

Defensive answers

Occasionally, questions can really put you on the spot, but it is important to remain calm and in control. An aggressive or defensive reply will be seen as weakness on your part and will spoil the effect of an otherwise successful presentation.

Handling difficult questions

It is important not to start responding to a difficult question before you have thought about the answer. Repeating the question and asking for clarification will help create some space for your thoughts.

Sometimes you will need to think about a question for a moment before responding. You may be able to buy a little bit of thinking time to help focus your response. Useful strategies include searching for an appropriate visual aid to help focus your response or simply pausing for a moment or two to think. For even more time, suggest that you’ll come back to the topic later (but don’t forget to do this).

7 myths when answering tough questions during presentations

Sometimes questions are too difficult to answer. Don’t worry about admitting that you don’t know something or haven’t considered an alternative approach. An enthusiastic “That’s an interesting idea, I’d not thought of that” is much more positive than a mumbled “I don’t know ”. Remember that a presentation is a two-way process and it is important to show that you are learning from your audience as well.

Finally, you can come across a questioner who disagrees strongly with your argument. Although this can feel very awkward, remember that you are still responsible for the whole audience and that you cannot allocate all of your question time to one individual.

If you feel that you have answered the initial question, announce that you will move on and suggest that you might continue discussion after the presentation. If the questioner persists, assert your position calmly by saying “I’m afraid I need to move on”.

You can read more on this topic here:  Responding to questions effectively (PDF)

How to handle questions during a presentation

Posted by Belinda Huckle  |  On January 29, 2022  |  In Presentation Training, Tips & Advice

In this Article...quick links

1. Tell the audience in advance when you will be taking questions

2. anticipate questions in advance, 3. realise that questions are a good thing, 4. make eye contact with the questioner, 5. always take a brief pause before launching into your answer, 6. be sure that you understand the question they are asking or point that they’re making, 7. acknowledge how valuable the question they’re asking is, 8. always keep your cool, 9. be honest if you don’t know the answer, 10. answer in sections if the question is a long one, 11. check-in with the questioner after you have given your response, follow us on social media for more great presentation tips:.

You’ve prepared your presentation, practised it a dozen times and you’re ready to go. But what’s the one thing that might throw you off course, undermine your confidence and your credibility? An awkward question. One that comes at an inopportune time, or one that’s difficult, or one with a complicated answer, or one you can’t answer! So it will come as no surprise that a question we get asked frequently centres around how to handle questions during a presentation!

Think about your work or everyday life, when someone asks you a question, how do you usually respond? Do you take a minute to think about your answer before launching into an explanation?

Do you interpret their question as a challenge of your authority/knowledge/intelligence and become defensive? Do you answer a question with another question? Did you notice that we’re asking a lot of questions right now…?

There are seemingly a thousand ways to answer a question and the kind of answer you give and how you deliver it can go a long way in helping to build positive relationships with other people, as well as facilitating constructive and helpful debates and conversations about certain issues and topics.

This is especially true in workplace environments, where you may be giving a presentation to your client, or delivering the quarterly business results to your team.

Questions may arise from the audience , which do have the potential to throw your presentation off course or set a bad tone in the room if not handled well. Some people can even inadvertently come across as rude, curt or dismissive when answering questions, simply because they feel attacked or they’re rushing to get back to their presentation before they lose their train of thought.

So in today’s blog post you’ll learn how to handle questions during a presentation. We’ve given you some specific advice to follow when answering questions and how to always remain courteous, on-track and respectful of the question-asker – so that in turn, you look professional and knowledgeable.

One of things that can sometimes throw you off course is being asked a question when you are mid-flow through a presentation or least expect it. It can interrupt your train of thought and momentarily put you off balance.

One way to avoid this is to agree in advance when you will be taking questions; anytime, at the end of each section, or at the end of the presentation. This way you won’t be surprised when they come up.

Whilst you are preparing your slides or deck, think about the questions you might be asked around the content and formulate your answers ahead of time.

Look at the content through the eyes of the audience and try to anticipate where their views might differ or where they might need clarification. If you are presenting to your executive board , you might be questioned on how your ideas affect or support the bottom line. Whereas a presentation to middle management on streamlining processes might raise problems about additional resources for support.

Therefore, is there any additional data or information that you could take along to the presentation that might help you to answer some of these questions?

You won’t be able to predict every question in advance, but by giving it some thought it will give you a foundation on which to base your answers and hopefully make it clearer to you how to handle questions during a presentation that you might be expecting!

It’s important to remember first and foremost that the fact that people are asking you a question in the first place means that they’re interested and engaged in what you have to say.

Either they want more information, they need clarification, they’re curious to know more, or they want to test your thinking, logic, and recommendations.

So, a question should always be taken as a good sign, and met with an extra boost of enthusiasm and confidence on your side .

Unfortunately, we’ve seen all too many presenters use the fact that someone has asked a question as an opportunity to adjust their microphone, check their slides, straighten their clothes, drink some water, wander around the room or stage… And we can’t say how much of a big no-no this is! It is definitely not how to handle questions during a presentation!

Becoming immediately and significantly distracted when someone is asking you a question can make you look as though you don’t really care about the question being asked, and can be quite disrespectful.

So be sure to maintain eye contact, nod regularly , and give the questioner your full attention.

Remember that it’s not just about your verbal response, your body language can be a powerful tool or a dead give away if you are feeling anxious or unconfident.

So be sure to show your interest in the question and questioner.

No matter whether someone is asking for some data or facts from you, questioning your way of doing things, or simply asking for more information, the first thing to do is to pause briefly after they’re finished asking their question, even if you know what your answer will be straight away.

There are 3 main reasons for this:

• It gives the person time to finish their question, and add any clarifying points.
• It shows that you are taking the time to consider the question, which shows respect.
• It gives you time to think of the best answer, and deliver it eloquently, rather than launching in, rushing through, and coming across as confused or uncertain.

One of the best communication techniques in life and business is to clarify and even repeat or paraphrase a question or point someone is making to you, as it helps avoid misunderstandings.

This is no less true while giving presentations as well, so when needed be sure to ask the questioner to expand or fine tune their point.

Remember, if you don’t understand the question, chances are you’ll give the wrong answer.

Repeating or paraphrasing a question also has the added bonus of ensuring that everyone else in the room has heard the question as well. Plus it gives you some extra thinking time too!

Don’t forget, if there is someone in the room who can add additional weight to your answer or expand in another area which is relevant, don’t be afraid to invite them to contribute also.

The old saying, “There are no silly questions” definitely rings true here, so you need to communicate this by making the questioner feel that their question was valid and constructive.

This needs to be done genuinely, and there are plenty of good ways to express an acknowledgement before giving your response:

• “That’s a question I asked myself”
• “That’s a question a lot of people have asked us recently”
• “I’m not surprised you’re asking that given …”
• “I think the point you’re making is a good one”
• “That’s a question we have discussed at length within our team”
• “Many thanks for your question. You’ve reminded me to touch on …”
• “In most situations, you’d be right, and I would agree with you”
• “That’s a really interesting point and not one we had considered”

It’s a good idea to practise these regularly, but always make sure the way you acknowledge the question is genuine or you’ll sound rehearsed and not authentic or credible as a presenter.

If a question is off-topic and not relevant to the presentation you might want to ask where the question is coming from, answer briefly and offer to give a more detailed response at a later date.

When it comes time to actually give your answer don’t get angry or defensive, no matter what the question is. This is not how to handle questions during a presentation in a professional, credible way!

We’ve all seen those video clips of celebs or politicians losing their temper after an interviewer asks them a less-than-favourable-question, and the only one who almost always comes off looking silly is the interviewee themselves.

So if you find yourself in a similar situation, even if the question was intended to be intentionally provocative, losing it or getting visibly emotional will make you come across as immature and unprofessional. If you feel yourself getting emotional, simply ask if you can get back to them at a later time.

We all have to admit to bluffing our way through an answer to a question we’re just not 100% sure of every now and then… But a presentation is not the time to do it.

Making up an answer or trying to dance around the question completely is a surefire way to come across like you don’t know what you’re talking about, which can really undermine your confidence for the rest of the presentation. Instead, here are some options for managing questions when you don’t know the (entire) answer.

• Tell them what you do know. E.g. if someone asks “What is the current rate of inflation?” you may not know the exact answer so you could reply by saying “I’m not sure of the precise rate of inflation right now, though I can look that up for you if you like. What I can tell you is that it is rising faster now than it has done for many years.”
• Tell them why you don’t know. E.g. if someone were to ask the above inflation question, you could reply by saying “The rate of inflation is extremely volatile at the moment. Let me look up the most recent data and get that figure to you straight after the presentation.”
• Tell them someone else knows. Again, using the inflation question, you might reply “That’s a hot topic at the moment and our CFO has just published a report looking at the current rate of inflation and the drivers behind it. I’ll email that report to you later this week.”
• Tell them you don’t know. It’s not ideal to admit that you don’t have the answer to hand but it’s better than making up the answer. In this scenario it’s imperative that you acknowledge the question so that you still come across as confident and in control rather than nervous and on the back foot. E.g you could say “That’s a very valid question you raise. I don’t have that data with me but I will send that information to straight after this presentation.”

Curly questions can really rock our confidence so stay calm, take your time and remember that no one expects you to know everything. You’re only human after all!

If the question is a particularly long one, ‘chunk’ up your answer into sections so your answer stays clear and concise.

For example, if someone asks you when a project is going to be completed, you might say:

“That’s actually a critical question as timings on this project are particularly tight (acknowledging worth). Based on our last status update, stage 1 will be completed by xxx, stage 2 by xxx and stage 3 by xxx.”

Or, if their question is multi-part, answer each part separately before moving onto the next.

You could say something like “And to address the second part of your question…”

After you finish your answer it’s important to check-in with the questioner to make sure that you’ve answered the question to their satisfaction. You can do this by simply asking:

• “Does that answer your question?”
• “Can I provide you with any more detail?”

Or, you can also check in non-verbally, such as by making eye contact with them and smiling. If you get a smile back, you can assume you’ve answered the question to their satisfaction. If you get a puzzled look or a frown, we recommend you follow up with a verbal check-in.

So, by learning how to handle questions during a presentation, following all these important points, and being thoroughly prepared before your presentation, it will help to  calm your nerves and leave you feeling ready to engage with your audience, stimulate constructive conversations, all while looking confident, professional and in control.

And if you’re going back into the meeting room after a long period of remote working you can brush up on your in-person presentation skills by reading this blog .

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Dealing with difficult questions during a PowerPoint presentation

In theory, giving a perfect power point presentation is simple. In practice, however, giving a perfect talk is another story. Most people get nervous when they give presentations, though we’ve given some useful tips to deal with anxiety related to public speaking. A great talk will make use of methods that make information exciting, and we’ve given some tips on how to do that, too. So let’s say you’ve done everything you can to make your presentation as close as possible to an ideal talk in terms of great content, excellent design, and intriguing delivery. There’s still one thing you can’t control before the talk and that’s how your audience responds.

Question-and-answer time forces people to think on their feet and sometimes audience members can ask very difficult questions. So how do you deal with the unforeseen? What can you do to prepare yourself to answer questions when you don’t yet know what those questions are? Well, we’ve compiled a short list of tips to help you deal with difficult questions during your power point presentation.

Misunderstandings

Questions that stem from misunderstandings are usually an innocuous type of question. If the audience member misunderstood something you said, it’s often appropriate to return to the slide that caused the confusion. After the talk, of course, consider where that confusion came from so you can avoid it when you give talks in the future.

If you, as the speaker, can’t understand the question either because it’s highly technical or the audience member asking it has a way of speaking that’s hard to understand, it’s usually acceptable to suggest discussing the question privately after the talk. Oftentimes, that’s more appropriate than holding the rest of your audience hostage while you go into fine details of something highly technical, especially if it’s not directly related to the main point of your talk.

If you’re having trouble understanding the question because it was caused by something confusing in your talk, follow these steps:

Rephrase the question and see if that is, in fact, what the questioner meant. If it isn’t, ask them to repeat their question or phrase it differently. Admit to not understanding what they said, if appropriate. This is almost always better than faking an understanding when you don’t understand the question. Accept responsibility for any confusion. After all, it’s your talk so you have a responsibility to deliver information clearly and understand enough about your topic that you’ll be able to answer reasonable questions about it. If, after you’re rephrased their question and they’ve tried a second time, there’s still a misunderstanding, suggest discussing it after the talk. Hecklers

Sometimes you’ll encounter someone in your audience who either doesn’t want you to succeed or wants to seem smart in front of their peers. If you detect that you’re being heckled, one way of diffusing the situation is to indicate that you can see the other person obviously knows what they’re talking about. This can quell the desires of people who just want to seem smart at a meeting.

If, on the other hand, their goal is to prove you don’t know what you’re talking about, it’s acceptable to ask them questions in return. For example, if someone says “I see you conclude from your data that the market has weakened. Obviously that’s not true so why do you think so?” in most circumstances it’s perfectly acceptable to respond with something like, “I made that conclusion because the data support that view. How would you interpret the data differently?” Showing that you’re willing to discuss alternative ideas is always a good thing, but if the questions add a lot of time to your talk, you might suggest taking the point up later in the interest of finishing your talk on time.

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Communication, facilitation, targeted learning, ​powerspeaking blog: tips and strategies for crafting presentations, tough questions: tips for dealing with difficult audiences.

by PowerSpeaking, Inc.     Nov 30, 2016 10:17:43 AM

If you are feeling apprehensive about public speaking or presenting, typically at the root of the anxiety is fear of embarrassing yourself. With careful preparation and focus on delivery, it can be easy to avoid embarrassment in a monologue style presentation. But what about when you open up the floor for questions and comments?

Audiences can be tricky: Even if they're your peers, co-workers, or experts in a certain field, everyone has their own agenda and emotional logic. By giving a presentation and soliciting feedback, you are inviting a variety of different personalities to listen and comment on your work. Audience member responses can range from boredom to outright hostility for reasons that may be unclear to you. To conquer a difficult audience, follow these tips:

Build Empathy Ahead of Time

Even if you are presenting to a room stuffed with hundreds of people, it is still possible to research the basic profile of audience members ahead of time. Ask yourself: Who will be watching my presentation? What kind of background do they have, and how does their background relate to my own? What kind of political agendas are at play? From there, try and put yourself in their shoes. What would it be like to hear the information in your presentation for the first time? By asking these questions, you can build empathy and understanding, which will help you stay cool if you run into hostility or skepticism.

Know Your Subject Inside and Out

It should go without saying, but when being pressed by a critical or hostile audience, knowing the subject of your presentation intimately is your best defense. The ability to speak authoritatively on things related to — yet outside the immediate scope of — your presentation could put an audience at ease.  

Keep the Focus on the Presentation

When being asked questions, keep the agenda in mind. The agenda is your commitment to the audience. If you are pressed on a particularly complicated idea outside of the agenda, first validate the questioner, then reassert the scope of session — giving the questioner (and anyone else) interested the opportunity to follow up later. Your response might sound like this: "That's an important topic and I would like to explore that with you — and anyone else that is interested! Unfortunately, that is not the focus of my presentation today but if you'd like to discuss this further, I’ll stay after this session so we can delve into this idea." That kind of response can help redirect conversation quite well.

Assert and Reassert

Whether it's confusion, hostility, or boredom, negative audience responses are often born out of confusion. They may be unintentionally or purposely misinterpreting implications of your work or simply unsure of the details. Practice being able to explain your work in a different language, simplifying as needed. If you observe a misinterpretation, don't chastise. Instead, politely apologize for the confusion and reassert your data concisely and carefully, putting emphasis on the information that you felt wasn't picked up last time.

Take Control of Q and As

When you open up the floor for questions, typically there are a few individuals who may be more outspoken than others. This is to be expected and some degree of responding to their questions is warranted. However, Jeremy Bailenson, PhD, a Stanford University psychology professor, cautions against letting a particularly fixated audience member monopolize the talkback session. "Remember that you're performing for the group, not for a few outspoken individuals," he told the American Psychological Association. If you feel that an audience member isn't ceding the floor for other questions, politely assert that you appreciate their interest but that you would like to hear from a variety of different voices and that time is limited.

Don't Take It Personally -- Even if It Is Personal

Occasionally, you may run into a particularly negative, hostile audience member. Whether their hostility is born out of an objection to an aspect of your work or simply a personal grudge, their bad attitude can be infectious and create a mood of discomfort felt throughout the venue. It is very important that you do not respond to their hostility in a personal way -- even if it is directed at you personally. The goal of these disrupters is to create a situation where you lose your cool. Remain politely detached, acknowledge their contributions to the conversation, and move on quickly.

You can't anticipate every troublemaker that may find themselves in your audience, but by focusing on preparation, poise and authority, you can take control of the situation and overcome audiences’ challenges.

Related Blog Posts:  Learn How Buzz & Acronyms can Ruin your presentation ,  Master Tough Questions in Four Steps ,  How Can You Maintain Attention?

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The Right Way to Handle Tough Questions During Presentations [SlideShare]

Updated: July 28, 2017

Published: January 21, 2016

If you've ever spoken in front of an audience -- big or small -- it's likely that you're familiar with "Q&A paranoia."

It's not that you don't want to answer people's questions -- heck, you're the expert -- but not knowing what to expect can be a little stressful. 

What if they challenge your stance? Try to discredit you? Or ask you something you haven't the slightest clue about?

While it's smart to anticipate certain objections, others may arise that you simply can't plan for. For tough times like those, check out the helpful tips in the SlideShare from 24Slides below.

How to you handle tough presentation questions? Share you tips in the comments section below.

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• Presentation Tips 9: How to deal with audience questions
• Presentation Skills

Most presentations end with time for questions from the audience. This is something that can strike fear into the heart of the presenter, for at least two reasons. The first is the prospect of being met with a stony silence when you ask, ‘Does anyone have any questions? ’ The second is being put on the spot and faced with tricky or controversial questions that you don’t know how to handle.

In this post I will outline some ways to encourage your audience to ask questions, as well as some tips on how to deal with questions effectively.

How to encourage your audience to ask questions

Inviting questions at the very end of your presentation can often lead to the dreaded stony silence, which can feel uncomfortable for everyone. If the success of your presentation depends on getting interaction and ‘buy in’ from your audience, then here are some strategies to take you beyond the awkward silence.

• Warn your audience when you are coming towards the end of your presentation and tell them you’ll be inviting them to ask questions. First, recap your main points and then invite questions. This gives your audience some thinking time and the chance to refocus their attention.
• Pose a question yourself and provide the answer. You can introduce your question by saying, ‘This is something people often ask me…………. ’ By choosing your question carefully, you can highlight a particular aspect of your presentation or use it subtly as a call to action.
• If your audience is large, people are likely to feel inhibited about speaking out. Consider having a ‘plant’ in the audience – a friend or colleague who asks the first question. Often this is all it takes to set the ball rolling and further questions will follow.
• Make sure you come across as approachable, friendly and interested in your audience. No-one wants to risk asking a question and appearing foolish in front of the ‘world leading expert’!

Tips for answering audience questions

Remember to make it clear at the start of your presentation whether you want or expect questions, and when you would prefer to take them i.e. at the end or as you go along. If you are an inexperienced presenter or if your timescale is very short, then it’s generally best to take questions at the end.

Most audience questions are fairly predictable, so you should have thought of them when preparing your presentation and figured out some good answers, especially to the tricky ones. Of course you won’t be able to predict every question, but you can develop and use a range of techniques for handling them effectively.

• Welcome every question and acknowledge that you have received it.
• If you are faced with a tricky question, don’t change your manner or respond defensively in words or body language.
• Repeat the question if the room is large, or if the questioner has a quiet voice.
• If the question is unclear, ask the questioner what they mean or rephrase it tactfully and check if you have understood correctly.
• Keep your answer brief and clear.
• Answer the question mainly to the questioner. If the answer is fairly long, make eye contact briefly with the rest of the audience so that they feel included.
• Check that the questioner is satisfied with your answer.
• Admit it if you don’t know the answer and don’t waffle. If appropriate, say that you will find out and get back to them.
• Refer the question to someone else in the audience – but only if they are expecting you to do so.
• In some circumstances you may open up the question to the whole audience.
• Don’t let one person dominate question time. Break eye contact with that individual and invite questions from other parts of the audience.
• Don’t engage in a long dialogue with one person. You risk the remainder of your audience becoming bored or restless. Say to the individual that you’ll be happy to discuss further after the presentation – if that’s the case!
• Never get drawn into an argument. You could undo all the good work you put into your presentation.
• When time is running out, warn the audience that you will take only two more questions.

Question time can be the most productive element of your presentation. Follow the tips outlined above and you will find yourself not only handling questions effectively but even enjoying the process too!

Click here to read one of my previous posts on  How to use visual aids.

Please contact me if you would like to find out about training courses or coaching on Presentation Skills. Click her e to view a sample Presentation Skills training programme.

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About the author: margaret johnston.

Related Posts

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Presentation Tips 7: How to use your voice effectively

Presentation Tips 6: How to make a great first impression

Presentation Tips 5: How to structure a presentation

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