Mastering Public Speaking – When Should We Allow Questions?
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When mastering public speaking this question often arises:
“When do I allow questions?”
Different public speakers allow questions at different parts of the presentation; but although there is no right or wrong way, the majority of speakers take questions only at the end. When mastering public speaking, you’ll want to decide the best time.
If we allow questions to be asked of us as and when they arise, it certainly aids informality – and this may be desirable if we are unsure of the level of knowledge of our audience.
However, unless controlled carefully, we could find the subject veering off at a tangent and all our careful preparation in danger of flying out the window as we follow a path for which we had not planned.
Another method is to allow questions at the end of fixed sections of the presentation. For complex topics this could again be beneficial so that everyone has a chance to catch up before moving on to the next section.
If, however, our audience is large, or it is a formal occasion, we are likely to have little choice but to keep all questions to the end. It is certainly easier to control the flow of the overall talk and it is so commonplace that most people feel comfortable with holding their questions back to the end. It also means we are better able to control the timing and flow of our speech and to keep ourselves on the straight and narrow.
In general, formal presentations will generate formal Q&As while informal sessions could encourage informal debate among a whole group of the audience.
The most important thing about the Q&A session, when held at the end though is that it will be the last thing that our audience remembers about our entire performance. If we gave a brilliant presentation, but stumbled over the answers at the end, the audience is likely to go away less than impressed.
On the other hand, if we gave a mediocre performance in the speech itself, but shone like a star in the Q&As, it may be enough to save our reputation and allow us to leave with our head held high!
For this reason, many people choose to hold their Q&A sessions just before the end. The difference is a fine one; and the thinking goes along the following lines: what happens if the Q&As go badly, or if the audience turns hostile?
Remember that the lasting memory of our audience as often as not will be how we ended our presentation. So some people hold the Q&A session just before the end, when they have said what they wanted to say, but before their killer close. This way, if the Q&As go badly, they still have a chance to pick up the pieces and end their presentation with a bang.
It’s up to you which you prefer to do; but when mastering public speaking – think about it carefully, as if you are at all worried about your audience reaction, it could spell the difference between success and failure.
Are you mastering public speaking? What’s your view regarding the best time to allow questions? Share them in the comments below.
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Hi, Andrew Rondeau here. I have over 25 years of hands-on management experience within a diverse range of different industries including retail, manufacturing, finance and IT. I’ve managed teams of up to 1000 individuals, managing numerous $multi-million projects, mergers, acquisitions and company sales.
Hi.
Good question!
Personally, I tend to allow questions of understanding (such as they don’t know the meaning of a word I used) as we go along, but others go at the end. That said, there’s a little bit of my that wants to suggest that a perfect presentation wouldn’t lead to questions: you’d have answered all possible questions in the presentation itself!
Yes, I know, it doesn’t work like that but there’s some validity in the point: you can generally tell how well you’ve nailed your presentation by the quality of the questions. If the questions tend to be about you and what you’ve said, then you’ve not done a great job. On the other hand, if the questions are about the application of what you’ve said and are personal to the questioner, then you’ve obviously given them something they can use.
Simon
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Simon,
Thanks for dropping by.
Your points are excellent.
But I like questions – I like the interaction. However I can see why you say: “a perfect presentation wouldn’t lead to questions”.
Andrew
Hi Andrew
If you are good at delivering a prepared speech but not so hot at thinking on your feet then perhaps no questions is the way to go.
Great point “many people choose to hold their Q&A sessions just before the end”
As you say, this puts you in control of that all important part of your presentation… the end.
.-= Keith Davis@public speaking and presentation skills´s last blog ..A helping hand… =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Keith,
My approach is ‘aim’ for the end but if someone raises a hand or asks a question…then I’ll do my best to answer.
Andrew
.-= Andrew @ Manager Skill´s last blog ..List of Articles =-.
If a person is teaching about public speaking he has to accept questions during the conference without problems. Otherwise the speaker is not prepared to teach others.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Daniel,
Why only if they are teaching about public speaking?
Andrew
.-= Andrew @ Manager Skill´s last blog ..List of Articles =-.
The best way to speak in public is extemporaneously. This means preparing the things you want to talk about carefully, then allowing yourself to speak naturally. Use index cards as prompts to help you move along, stay on track and remember your key points. Jot down your key ideas and what you want to talk about. Put each key idea on an index card, and make a brief note on each of the points you want to make in those key ideas. Think of an interesting opening and closing remarks, and jot them down, each on their own card. Put the cards in order and number them. Have them with you when you are ready to speak and refer to them as needed.