For both the seasoned and the occasional presenter, the Q&A session provokes anxiety and even fear. As Elon Musk recently found out, even the most well-prepared and organized presentation can go off the rails when the speaker is confronted by irrelevant information, non-questions, or even hostility. Show
Yet, the Q&A session is an essential tool. It’s a way to truly make your work a subject of conversation and a way to connect with your audience. With a bit of creativity, you can use the Q&A session to transform and elevate your talk. Here are some ideas for how: 1. Know why and what you’re doingBuilding Q&A into your talk fundamentally changes the dynamic between you, the speaker, and the audience — in a good way. We as speakers sometimes forget that the point of the presentation isn’t to let us talk. It is to create an exchange of views and information. Q&A sessions transform the presentation from an empty exercise in lecturing to a real and fruitful learning experience.
Q&A sessions transform the presentation from a simple lecture into a real learning experience. Click To TweetBring effective Q&A events to life, no stressGet Started Free 2. Timing, timing, timingIt is easy to think of the Q&A as an afterthought, although it is anything but! At an absolute minimum, budget 25% of your total time to the Q&A session. Don’t give in to the temptation to get caught up in the flow of your presentation and go over speaking time. You will get more information out, and in a more digestible format, during Q&A. Moreover, consider not bunching all your Q&A time to the end, but plan for some interactive Q&A sessions throughout your speaking time (see tips 6 & 7 below!) 3. Make a list of potential questions (and answers)As you prepare the presentation, keep in mind the audience and what they’re looking for. Try and see things from their perspective. What questions might they have? First, brainstorm at least 5-10 key questions (depending on the length of your presentation). Then, prepare answers to them. Keep the answers short and direct. Prepare for your Q&A by coming up with potential questions and answers. Click To Tweet4. Keep some slides in reserve specifically for Q&AEver write a presentation and find that some slides go into too much detail and detract from the flow of the presentation? Don’t throw them out. Keep them on hand for the Q&A session. When a question comes up that is more in-depth, pull out your prepared slide and look like an absolute ace for having the information ready! 5. Neutralize trouble with opennessWhen you receive a relevant, thoughtful question that allows you to talk about your product, answering it is easy. But what if you get an irrelevant question, a meandering one, or, even worse, a hostile one? Even these challenging situations can be turned to your advantage.
All of these strategies reinforce your authority in the room. Others in the audience will be able to tell that the question is irrelevant or hostile. And they will appreciate your poise in handling such questions effectively. 6. Use software to revolutionize Q&AAlthough the above tips will already get you an effective Q&A session, tech can help you knock it out of the park. Use software that makes interacting with your audience, collecting and fielding questions, a cinch. Instead of a mic, invest in tools that allow everyone to submit a question via their mobile devices. This used to be done via a system called clickers. Clickers were clunky, expensive, and required maintenance. Currently, you can invest in a software package that will allow your audience to submit questions or answer a poll on their mobile devices. The cost (to you or your company) is minimal; the benefits to engagement are huge. Because these systems allow your audience to answer a question in real time, you can poll your audience and show them the results, sparking true conversation and idea-building. Q&A software makes interacting with and collecting question from your audience, easy. Click To Tweet7. Democratizing discussionUsing live Q&A software for your software means that you are no longer locked into using Q&A at the end of your talk. Instead, you can deploy questions before, during, and after your talk to create a feedback system that will deliver maximum insight and exchange for you and your audience. You can:
Deploy Qs before, during, and after your talk to give feedback that will deliver maximum insight. Click To TweetThe result will be a more democratic, open discussion that will keep your audience fully engaged through the entire presentation period. Most experts agree that the average human will start tuning out after a maximum of 20 minutes; even the most talented speakers will lose their audience for chunks of time. On the other hand, reorganizing your presentation so that it is punctuated by shorter Q&A sessions and group discussions following strategic polling will keep your audience on their toes the entire time! 8. Gain controlThe great thing about using audience response software is that it can help you collect and sift through questions ahead of time. Or conduct real-time polling, putting you in control of the room. By previewing at least some questions ahead of time, you not only give yourself a chance to prep, you can also weed out hostile and irrelevant questions ahead of time. 9. Leverage anonymityAnother positive aspect to using software with your Q&A session is that you can enable people to either ask questions anonymously (when they submit them before the talk) or provide their opinion anonymously (when they vote in a real-time poll). Because the input is anonymous, there’s no risk or judgment from peers or bosses, and people feel liberated to pose great questions. Leveraging anonymity allows the audience to pose great questions and ask freely without judgment. Click To TweetImprove Q&As with world’s most popular event diagrammingGet Started Now 10. Practice, practice, practiceAs with anything else, practice makes perfect. Or, if not perfect, at least better. Even with the best structure and preparation, Q & A sessions come with some uncertainty and will require thinking on your feet. When you practice your presentation, practice the Q & A as well: ask a few friends or colleagues to sit in your audience and to throw questions at you. As you can see, the Q & A session is not something to fear, but a key tool for making sure your presentation really gets its point across. The more well-developed, active, and engaged your Q & A session, the more successful your overall presentation. Active engagement has been shown to boost attentiveness, understanding, and retention of the presented information. Whether you group your Q&A session at the end, in the traditional format, or experiment with other styles, an effective Q & A session will improve your audience’s understanding of your material. It will create a more democratic and collaborative atmosphere, allowing people to see how their thoughts compare with others. At the same time, members of your audience will feel that their individual questions and concerns are being addressed. Even individuals who are reluctant to speak up feel empowered and everyone feels more committed and involved in your project. Don’t take it from us: tell us what you do to maximize a Q&A session. Give us a shout on Facebook or Twitter. What are the three factors you should consider when considering your readers attitudes and expectations?There are three main areas to consider when analyzing your audience: demographics, dispositions and knowledge of the topic. For each of these areas, there are a set of questions to answer which will help stimulate your thinking about your audience.
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In which situation would it be more effective to use the indirect strategy quizlet?Explanation: The indirect strategy works best with audiences who are uninterested, unwilling, displeased, or perhaps hostile. An indirect opening works well with bad news, sensitive news, and certain types of persuasive messages.
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