How to Take Questions from the Audience

A question-and-answer period at the end of your speech can be the most valuable and informative part of your presentation from the audience’s perspective—but one of the most nerve-wracking for you, if you’re not prepared. Fortunately, a few simple pointers will make the question-and-answer period much easier on you.

Plan the specific amount of time you’d like to devote to answering questions. Unless your audience is completely lost and needs to ask a question during your speech for basic understanding, save questions for the end of the presentation. Put the information you want people to ask about near the end of the presentation. Anticipate some specific questions that the audience might ask and practice responses to them out loud.

Every time you field a question, repeat it out loud so that other audience members can hear it. If necessary, clarify the question with the asker and repeat it again. When answering, be concise, specific, and brief. Don’t bring up other issues—always focus on the particular question that was asked. Even if a questioner seems hostile or appears to be trying to provoke you, avoid coming across as defensive.

On occasion, you may be asked a question for which you simply don’t know the answer. If this occurs and you’re unsure whether to answer or defer:

Alternatively, you can seek help from someone else in the audience, if you feel that doing so won’t unduly undermine your credibility or authority.