In a presentation, your question and answer session  will give you one last opportunity to impress your audience with your competence, authority, polish, and professionalism.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it is very important to have a well-rehearsed and strategized question and answer session.   Just remember:  Anything you don’t want asked, will be asked. Be ready with your answers.

It IS possible to prepare and practice your question and answer session.  This is what seasoned public speakers do to get ready for a question-and-answer session.

• Have a brainstorming session with a trusted colleague, friend, or advisor on potentially difficult or embarrassing questions and plan how you will answer.  Remember:  Anything you don’t want asked, will be asked in the Q&A session!  Be ready with your answers.
• Put yourself in the shoes of a member of your audience, and ask yourself the questions they would have for you.  (It helps to think about the troublemakers and argumentative folks who will be in the audience if you really want to be prepared for your Q&A session).
• Strategize on how to transition to major selling points without appearing glib, disingenuous, or downright deceitful.  (This is where politicians typically get into trouble.
• Maintain your presentation posture during Q&A, even if you are seated at a table.  This is especially true if you are participating on a panel.

If you are presenting as part of a team, look alert and interested in your teammates’ answers.  All of the delivery techniques, such as eye contact, voice, posture, gesture, are important here, as well.

Most importantly, plan a second conclusion that mirrors your first conclusion, and deliver your second conclusion at the close of the Q&A session.

For Q&A sessions, don’t ever lose your cool.   You might lose your cool your car, or in a private space, but not in your public space when you are in The Zone.   The Zone does not allow for loss of control, no matter what happens.

The Q&A session is your final chance to really impress your audience with your competence, authority, polish, and professionalism.  Don’t waste it.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 at 6:00 am and is filed under Presentation Skills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.