Mastering Presentations: Be the Undisputed Expert when You Deliver Presentations

Chapter 9

Fearless Question and Answer Sessions

“Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.”

—Ronald Reagan

Many presenters are most fearful of the question and answer periods, because they feel like they can’t really prepare for them. However, question and answer periods are not only fairly easy to prepare for but also a fantastic way to prove that you are the expert.

Before we cover how to conduct question and answer sessions, let’s first talk about when question and answer sessions are helpful and when to avoid them. We’ll also talk about two different types of questions you will be asked.

WHEN TO USE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS

If you are in control of the agenda and have the option of whether to include a question and answer session, don’t put the session in. In real-life presentations, the last thing you want to do is have people hold all of their questions until the end of your presentation. If someone has a question about something that I am covering, I would much rather have the person ask me the question when it comes up versus having the person with the question being confused during most of my presentation and then asking the question at the end. It’s a better policy to encourage questions throughout the presentation than finishing early and giving people a few minutes after the presentation to ask questions.

If, however, someone else is ...