q&a presentation

Spark News: Coming (& Recent) Attractions

• Spark booth presenter shines at Las Vegas tech show
• Navy SEAL fundraiser books charity auctioneer Andy Saks
• Boston awards event books Spark master of ceremonies
• Read all Coming (& Recent) Attractions

Sparky Says: Presentation & Public Speaking Tips

• 10 Tips to Boost Donations at Your Fund the Need / Paddle Raise
• 10 PowerPoint Alternatives That Make Your Presentation Memorable
• Read all Sparky Says (Speaking Tips)

Presentation Frequently Asked Questions

• Trade show presenter 101: Your guide to booking a booth presenter (Part 1)
• Sales presentation skills: How much is your pitch actually worth?
• How do I hire the right trade show presenter?
• Read all Presentation FAQ

Spark's Client Success Stories

• Emcee tips: How Spark’s master of ceremonies made AT&T’s awards dinner fun
• Trade show booth ideas: How to get the most value from your presenter
• Trade show booth ideas: Recycle your presentation script
• Read all Spark Success Stories

Spark Presentations

Andy Saks, Owner & Lead Speaker

781-454-7600 | Email | Contact page

Don't miss exclusive Spark deals! Sign up for your Spark e-newsletter today.

15 Tips That Guarantee A Productive Q&A Session

Conferences and events often include question-and-answer sessions as an integral presentation component or as standalone segments. These Q&A sessions allow audiences to delve deeper into specific subjects or pose questions to individuals they might not typically have access to.

Hosting a successful Q&A session may not always be a cakewalk. It requires the moderator or emcee to manage the time effectively, structure the session strategically, encourage active participation from the audience, and much more. Let’s delve into the tips for hosting a successful Q&A session.

What is a Q&A Session?

A “Question and Answer Session,” or “Q&A Session,” is when a presenter interacts with an audience by answering their questions. Hosting a Q&A session is very important from the point of view of engagement, as participants stay engaged through interactive conversations that keep them interested and focused.

It can also help participants understand the discussed issue as they can ask questions to understand complex subjects better. It also ensures personalized learning, as asking tailored questions makes the information more relevant to the person’s requirements.

Furthermore, it promotes problem-solving as these Q&A sessions address issues and provide immediate, useful answers. Q&A sessions help people engage with the content and learn more effectively.

15 Tips to Host a Successful Q&A Session

While we know Q&A sessions and why they are so important, let’s look at a few tips to help you conduct a successful and effective Q&A session. This section below will contain tips for each stakeholder- presenter, moderator, audience, and organizers. We hope these tips help each of you achieve your goals at the conference, enhance attendee engagement, and improve your interaction with the audience. 

For the Presenter-

Here are a few pointers that a presenter should keep in mind for a successful Q and A session-

1. Define Clear Objectives

First, clearly define the objectives for a successful Q&A session. This means outlining the specific goals and expected outcomes. This clarity creates the foundation for a concentrated and deliberate relationship. Stating these goals can guide participants and shape the conversation’s direction. To do so, follow these steps:

• Choose the main goals you hope to achieve during the Q&A session. Are you hoping to exchange information, solve issues, or generate creative ideas?
• Create straightforward statements that convey each purpose. Use language that is easily understood by your intended audience. 
• Before the session starts, inform the participants of the goals. This provides background and aids in establishing expectations.
• Maintain a direct connection between the objectives and the session’s central theme.

2. Structure the Session

Plan how the discussion will go and what will be discussed for a good Q&A session. This strategy helps more people participate, keeps things organized, and makes the session impactful. This is how you do it:

• Begin by outlining the session’s goal, objectives, and any participation rules.
• Establish the speaker’s credibility by briefly outlining their expertise or history. 

• You can begin with quick opening comments that establish the tone for the Q&A.
• The majority of the session should be devoted to questions and answers. The speaker can discuss multiple topics while emphasizing their significance to the main theme. 
• Give each question a time restriction to guarantee a detailed discussion. This will save time on certain topics.

3. Undergo Thorough Preparation

Preparing well for a Q&A session is important. It helps you gain a thorough understanding of the topic so that you can effectively tackle the questions after the presentation. For tips, check out our article on Public Speaking Techniques to Leave a Lasting Impression. 

If you are a presenter and are wondering how you prepare for the presentation like a pro, we have a few techniques explained ahead for you that will help you in the process:

• Firstly, consider what your audience is interested in, what they know, and their history when responding. That will help you prepare accordingly. 
• Secondly, you need to understand the topic of discussion to answer effectively and fully. 
• While preparing the presentation, think about the questions the participants might ask and plan smart answers beforehand. This is crucial to establish your credibility as a moderator. 
•  Track new advancements in the field to stay updated with the latest information. This will help you tackle any challenging questions that may come your way. 
• As you prepare your key points, find important details, examples, stories, or statistics to improve your replies. Doing so will add credibility to what you have to say. To get more interesting ideas to make your presentation successful, read our article, “ 17 Impactful Persuasive Techniques to Become a Master Public Speaker .”  
• Also, remember to simplify complicated concepts while answering the audience, as you don’t want to lose their attention along the way.

4. Concise and Clear Responses

Speakers should always keep their responses short, clear, and focused on the problem when answering questions. Before organizing the Q and A session, you should also thoroughly research and prepare for the session’s main theme. 

In an excerpt from the 2016 Japanese textbook called “NIG Method for Scientific English Presentation by Tatsumi Hirata, Todd Gorman, and Yash Hiromi’’, the authors discuss how to interpret certain questions under various circumstances. According to the journal, this practice guarantees the participants receive correct information while avoiding needless discussions or confusion. This is how you can do it:

• As soon as a question is asked before replying, take the time to comprehend the question thoroughly.
• Address the questions using facts, figures, and substance. This shows your preparation for the topic. Avoid technical jargon that may mislead people. 
• Summarize key points separately if the question is open-ended and long.
• You can also use analogies to simplify some difficult topics. 
• Try to avoid repeating the same material in multiple ways.
• Inquire whether the participant understood your response or if they want more clarity.

5. Enhance with Visuals

A research paper published in May 2023 in Multimedia Tools and Applications, titled “ The Influence of Product Digital Visual Presentation on Purchase Willingness: effects of Roundedness Axes and Degree,” explores how different shapes and colors in a presentation affect one’s attention. These responses to stimuli make one focus more on the screen. Pictures, charts, graphs, or slides can reportedly make a Q and A session more understandable. These visuals show concepts, statistics, or ideas. Visual aids make complex content easier to understand. They add depth, clarity, and interest. This is how you do it:

• Choose graphics that directly support the presentation’s contents.
• Put clear, uncluttered graphics that are easy to understand.
• Turn statistics or data into aesthetically appealing charts or graphs.

• To show concepts, procedures, or scenarios, use visuals or diagrams.
• Avoid using too much text in your presentations, as it can make the screen look cluttered; instead, concentrate on visual depiction.
• You can use colors to emphasize and distinguish different aspects or use specific colors and shapes to highlight specific information. 
• For your participants to understand everything thoroughly, explain every visual depiction from your presentation.

While we are on the topic of presentations, you should also check out The Gazebo- B2B speakers directory. If you’re a speaker or want to be one, join our Gazebo Speaker Community by filling out a small Google form . Once you’ve made your profile on this platform, you can also upload your presentations and creations with fellow community members and expand your connections.

For the moderator-

For a Q and A session to be successful, a moderator must consider these key pointers carefully-

6. Encourage Active Engagement

To get more people involved in a Q&A session, it’s important to empower them. Participants should feel encouraged to ask questions and share their views. This active engagement raises the session’s depth and richness. So as a presenter, you can adhere to a few important ways, as mentioned below- 

• Begin the meeting with a kind and welcoming introduction that invites participation.
• To establish the tone for the conversation, prompt participants to ask questions.
• Start with a few icebreaker questions to establish rapport and show openness. It is extremely important to ensure that everyone feels welcome and at ease asking questions.
• Let people share their thoughts and stories about the subject by giving them the floor open for their words.

• Invite participants to ask follow-up questions to dive deeper into specific aspects.
• You should also encourage participants to answer each other’s questions and explain further to promote interaction.

7. Facilitate Effective Moderation

The moderator should ensure a balanced and productive conversation during a Q&A session by managing its flow and dynamics. A good session runs smoothly, involves people, and gives everyone value. 

Here are a few steps to effectively moderate your session: 

• Introduce yourself at the beginning of your session. Include your background and expertise on the topic and explain how you can moderate that session for your current audience. 
• Before the session starts, explicitly announce your session’s participation criteria to your audience. This ensures courteous and helpful conversations.
• Give each question a specific time limit to keep things on track and maintain a good pace.
• Explain the session’s rules in the beginning. Make sure to inform them beforehand that you can step in as a moderator if some queries take too long. This needs to be practiced so everyone can have a turn to speak.
• Use transitional statements to move between queries. 
• Maintain a neutral and respectful demeanor, especially when dealing with potentially contentious issues.

8. Focus on Relevance

As a moderator, you must ensure that the questions and their replies are related or always circle back to the session’s main theme to keep it relevant. Using this method helps everyone stay focused and get the most out of the session. Follow the instructions below to make the most out of your session:

• Encourage participants to ask any queries that they have about the main topic of discussion.
• If a question deviates from the major issue, gently steer it back to the right topic.

• As a moderator, if you are dealing with a large volume of questions,  prioritize the ones that are closely related to the subject.
• Allow for larger debates about the core issue while remaining on topic. This helps in audience engagement and promotes open discussion about the theme. 
• Politely acknowledge fascinating questions that are outside the scope of the present discussion that’s going on.  And if you choose to answer them, tie your responses to the main subject to foster relevancy.

9. Nurture a Positive Atmosphere

Participants need to feel comfortable and respected to make a Q&A session positive. It’s important to encourage them to ask questions and share their ideas. Promoting optimism increases involvement and leads to a fruitful and courteous debate. Use the following actions:

• Start with a friendly introduction to set a positive tone from the beginning and make your participants feel comfortable. 
• Recognize the significance of each participant’s questions, regardless of how complex their query is, and try to answer it with much poise and factual accuracy. 
• Provide positive comments or expressions of thanks for smart or thought-provoking inquiries.
• To create a respectful environment, answer with courteous words and a considerate tone. Use statements like- “That is a wonderful question,” | “I appreciate your curiosity,” and similar statements.
• If you have disagreements or confrontations among participants, you should handle them politely.
• When meeting in person, remember to make eye contact, use friendly body language, and have a positive attitude.
• Thank the participants for coming and for their interest in the session topic.

10. Guidance for Off-Topic Questions

During a Q&A session, make sure to redirect participants who ask unrelated questions politely. To keep the session helpful, redirect the debate and focus on the theme. To ensure that your sessions don’t derail and provide maximum useful outputs, follow the steps below:

• Begin by recognizing the question and its importance to the participant.
• Transition politely by announcing the session’s main focus. This needs to be practiced as many times as needed during the session. 
• First, determine a link between the off-topic query and the main theme. Then, as a moderator, show genuine interest in the off-topic inquiry, even if you can’t answer it completely.
• Return the discussion to the core topic and explain to your participants why you did that. 

• Toward the end of the session, provide resources that can answer the off-topic queries raised by your participants during the session. 
• If the participant requires further help, encourage them to contact you directly.

11. Inclusive Participation

As a moderator or organizer, you must create an inviting and respectful environment for diverse participants to engage in a Q&A session. This method encourages more diversified and interesting sessions that benefit all participants. To do this, follow these steps:

• Begin with an introduction that emphasizes the importance of different points of view. This will ensure that all your participants feel included and are encouraged to participate freely. 
• Choose a language that will not alienate any group of participants. It is important to make everyone feel comfortable consistently and included in the discussion. 
• Create an opportunity for every individual to express themselves. If needed, highlight a few participants with different backgrounds and who have some expertise related to the topic. 
• Ensure that both in-person and virtual participants have equal opportunities to engage.
• Recognize that involvement styles might differ (verbal, written, etc.).

• Allow participants to ask questions either in person or virtually. Check out some Conference Tools to help organizers and participants with this experience.

12. Facilitate Dialogue

Promoting meaningful conversations between participants is extremely important in a Q&A session. This strategy goes beyond simple conversations. It creates an atmosphere where participants build on each other’s ideas and discuss with each other. Below mentioned are some steps you can practice to implement meaningful discussions: 

• Encourage attendees to react to one another’s questions or remarks.
• Pose questions that inspire a variety of perspectives and in-depth replies. Then, open the floor for such discussions to ensure maximum engagement. 
• Connect replies from one attendee to another one’s query to establish a continuous dialogue among participants.
• Address opposing ideas respectfully and facilitate meaningful debates.
• Encourage participants to go into depth about certain topics by allowing follow-up questions.
• Share relevant experiences as a presenter and open the stage for attendees to discuss their inputs as well. 

For the audience-

Audiences are the most integral part of a Q and A session. For your audience to be satisfied, remember the following points while planning the Q and A session-

13. Balanced Question Selection

In a Q&A session, choosing a mix of questions that cover different views, topics, and difficulty levels is important. As per an article published in 2016 by  Nielsen Norman Group ( a collaboration of all world leaders), questions can be of two types: Open-Ended and Close-Ended. The report’s authors advise to pose more open-ended questions to uncover more insights. They also advise attendees to fine-tune their questions and assess whether they can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” If they can, rephrasing them to explore the “how” and “what” aspects in greater detail is highly encouraged. Having said that, there are situations where one may need to restrict response options, such as when free-form or write-in answers are not practical or manageable. 

Here are a few things to remember before selecting a mix of questions to ask the speaker/panelists.

• Before the session, review submitted questions to ensure a fair mix.
• Include questions that touch on many facets of the major subject to cover multiple themes, such as factual, conceptual, and application-based questions.
• Choose questions that are appropriate for both beginners and experts.

• Ensure your questions include a wide range of demographics, experiences, and points of view. And tailor these questions to the demographics of your participants. 
• Combine simple questions with ones that need more in-depth answers.
• Include questions on recent advances in the field.
• Incorporate questions that are widely relevant, as well as those with unique subtleties.

For the organizer-

A successful Q and A session hinges on the organizer keeping in mind various crucial aspects, as outlined below-

14. Adaptability to Challenges

An organizer can face challenges throughout the conference and should always have a backup plan for it. The most important quality to possess during a challenge is – Flexibility.  Flexibility means handling problems and tough questions gracefully during a Q&A session. This method shows how well you handle challenges, stay calm, and make participants happy. To do it, follow the instructions below:

• You should prepare contingency plans for any potential problems. To know more about such problems, keep reading this article. 
• If a problem emerges, change the session schedule to accommodate it.
• Redirect questions that are outside the topic of the session.
• Address complicated or delicate issues courteously and respectfully.
• If the first format fails, try a new mode (e.g., Q and A panel, open forum).
• The moderator should respond to negativity with positivity and positive replies only.
• Even during difficult conversations, maintain respect and professionalism.
• Adapt and enhance any upcoming conferences or sessions based on the feedback provided by your participants.

15. Effective Closure and Follow-up

You must end the discussion meaningfully to close and follow up well in a Q&A session. Also, give participants chances to join in later or get more information. This conclusion ensures that participants have the option to continue learning. Here’s how to efficiently end a session:

• Recap through all the important points and ideas addressed throughout the discussion.
• Thank your attendees for their participation, questions, contributions, and engagement.

• Include any upcoming relevant seminars, workshops, or events that may interest your attendees.
• Invite attendees to provide comments to enhance future sessions. Read our article on Conference Feedback to help you plan your next event .
• Share your contact information with the participants if they have any extra inquiries.
• Share social media handles or details for any community related to the conference agenda. This will encourage the attendees to continue their conversations. 
• After the session, make any recording or a summary of the discussion available to the participants. 
• Thank all your attendees personally for their presence through follow-up emails.
• Always end a discussion using a motivational or uplifting statement. This ensures that the overall conversation ends on a positive note/

Challenges Faced During a Q&A Session

Once you know how to plan a successful session, remember that issues can still arise during Q&A. These may include:

• Time Management: Balancing time while dealing with a myriad of questions can result in hastily finishing off the questions. Hence, the moderator should be affluent in managing their time while dealing with each question. 
• Irrelevant Questions: Off-topic questions might derail the conversation from the session’s main point. This can also lead to a waste of time. That’s why you should always gently veer back the whole discussion to the main theme.
• Limited Participation: Encouraging all guests to ask questions might be difficult, as answering each query requires a lot of facts and examples to be presented. So, as a speaker, you should encourage the participants to share their stories and experiences while answering each other’s questions. 
• Sensitive Topics: Q&A sessions tend to reveal sensitive discussions among the attendees. There is a famous saying by Albert Einstein –  “Curiosity has its own reason for existing,” which implies having to deal with all kinds of curious brains and their questions civilly.  

• Volume of Questions: These sessions can be challenging because of the overwhelming number of questions. Handling these many questions can lead to difficult decisions, such as skipping a few questions politely or addressing them later with another query related to the main theme. 

To have a successful Q&A session, you must navigate challenges well. This means being a good moderator, preparing in advance, and being adaptable.

Key Takeaway

Knowing how to interact with your audience in a productive Q&A session is a powerful way to communicate and share information. Use the 15 techniques in this guide to make your next Q&A more engaging and productive.

When you use these techniques in your Q&A sessions, you’ll see a change from a regular conversation to a memorable dialogue. The impact of this dialogue will stay with your audience for a long time, even after the session ends. Engaging in positive Q&A sessions helps build connections, enhance learning, and leave a lasting impression.

For the latest information about the event’s industry, visit our site- Eventible .

How to Write a Successful Event Sponsorship Letter: Tips and Best Practices with Templates

Top 5 IT Events from Q1 (Jan to Mar) 2023

Related posts, how to budget for event planning: a comprehensive guide for all event organizers, how long should a keynote speech be, in conversation with noelle peterson, senior director, global event experiences & field marketing at usertesting, the ultimate event strategy guide for conference planners.

Comments are closed.

Alison Bensch

Senior director of global events, cloudinary, proudest of.

In both cases, we had to figure out how to take what are historically in-person events and translate them into engaging virtual experiences with a team of just two in-house event marketers, counting myself.

ImageCon is our flagship customer summit. In 2021, more than 1,700 people across 107 countries registered for the two-day event, which included 20 virtual sessions designed to help retailers unleash the full potential of their visual media.

Our hosted event series included about 8 virtual events across North America and EMEA markets. To drive up attendance and engagement, we hosted unique virtual cooking and mixology classes, wine tastings, tequila pairings, and more, with celebrity chefs and bartenders such as Marcus Samuelsson, Julio Cabrero, and Amanda Freitag.

Rockstar Mode

ImageCon was a success, in part, because we secured high-quality speakers and focused on providing true value to attendees by creating sessions to optimize their usage of the Cloudinary platform to improve their business. We featured customers in the content by doing customer spotlights. We also improved the production level of the summit by partnering with an agency.

I am proud we were able to pull off a high-quality event of this scale while managing 30 other events for the year.

Prior to the pandemic, our hosted event series consisted of in-person dinners and intimate happy hours. We wanted to recreate these virtually, without making them feel like webinars. We succeeded, in part, because we invested in high-quality talent to attract participants and create fun, memorable moments we probably could not have pulled off in-person.

We also took pains to make the events as easy as possible to attend, for example, by mailing guests meal kits or drink kits with everything they needed to participate. Of course, everything was branded, right down to the salt and pepper. We know our attendees’ time is precious, so we encouraged them to involve their family and were sure to include enough food and/or drink to share.

After the experience, we broke out into small groups, allowing people to network with peers and Cloudinary team members, who led discussions on relevant industry topics. Thus, attendees topped off a great culinary or cocktail experience with valuable learnings that could help their business. In fact, I see us continuing with some of these virtual events even after we have resumed in-person ones.

Our on-demand event content is now a powerful sales enablement tool for our sales team, who share session recordings with prospective customers, as well as existing ones who are considering adding on a new capability. We will continue to measure the performance of this content.

For the hosted events, we evaluate success by measuring pipeline acceleration. So, we consider where event guests are in their consideration process before attending the event. We use the event, and event follow-up, to help move the prospect or customer to the finish line. We usually see prospects who engaged in marketing campaigns were more likely to close, and close faster, than those who did not attend an event.

While this is harder to measure, we know our event series keeps the Cloudinary brand top of mind and deepens our relationship with customers. We document the positive feedback we receive from attendees and sales reps for internal use and marketing purposes.

Survivor Mode

Another challenge was creating an event strategy against a backdrop of so much uncertainty. I have seen industry colleagues invest resources in planning in-person events, only to have to rejigger in the final hour. I made the decision from the onset of the year to plan for virtual events, given our small team and resources. This allowed us to create more effective and engaging virtual events from the start and maximize our budget.

Nothing beats in-person events, and I am excited to be moving forward with these in 2022. But I plan to continue with digital and hybrid events, as well, for a number of reasons. When done right, they can be more memorable than in-person ones, and certainly more convenient. They also allow me to engage people across a wider geographic region (all of Europe for example or across the US), which leads to cost-savings and unique and widened interactions for our attendees.

Annie Yuzzi VP

Global corporate events and experiences, sumo logic, bethany roskin murphy, director of global events, drift, charlene kate ditch, founder, charlene kate events, gabrielle d., global events director, automation anywhere, gerilynn marburger, director, global events, hewlett packard enterprise, hollie ashby, senior manager, cxo and third party events, palo alto networks, lindsey cohen, director- event marketing, snyk, ceo & chief event strategist, liz king events, nicola kastner, vice president, global head of event strategy, sap, rachel russell, field marketing manager, even, samantha calle, associate director, xandr, margaret shaeffer, head of field marketing & events, linearb, traci depuy, head of global events, salesforce, dale rickert, global conference head of greentech festival, matthew lin, head of marketing, beetc, emilie watrob, head of event marketing, zs, katherine leong, director, corporate events, gainsight, sr. director, marketing technology (brand and events), salesforce, karim youssef, creative director, dpw, elizabeth thomas, head of global events, elastic, gerry schneider, vp events at wearedevelopers, director, global events at hewlett packard enterprise, mike kalyan, event and seminar marketing manager, shrm.

LOVE EVENTIBLE?

Disclaimer: If you choose to provide us with your email address or any other personally identifiable information, we will use it only to send you our newsletter or respond to your query.

10 Ways to Prepare for a Live Q&A Session

• Event Planning , Leadership Techniques , Tips

It’s hard feeling connected to your co-workers and employees while working remotely, especially if you aren’t used to it. But there are a lot of ways to make the most of business meetings throughout the week. One of those tricks? Q&A sessions.

Live Q&A sessions are great to have after a meeting — whether in-person or online — because they help your employees feel engaged and ensure they understand the topics brought up.

A Q&A session following a meeting or a Q&A session after a presentation to clients or customers makes listeners feel heard and creates a sense of connection to the topic.

‍Meeting Pulse is a live audience platform that’s all about engagement. We understand the importance of making your team or audience feel involved, included, and valued . That’s why we want to give you a bit more insight into hosting an online Q&A session.

But first, let’s explore what a live Q&A session is a little more.‍

Why Should You Host an Online Q&A Session?

Okay, first thing’s first: Q&A stands for “questions and answers.” To host a live Q&A session , you need to utilize a live streaming platform that allows the audience to respond, like Zoom or Google Hangouts. Then, you need to reply to their questions. That’s it!

Of course, there are nuances to properly hosting a Q&A session and things to do to make it more impactful, inspiring, and engaging. We’ll get into that, but let’s take a closer look at why you should take the time to organize a live Q&A session :

• Increase employees’ interaction and keep their attention.
• Address employees’ questions directly.
• It allows the company to address concerns or questions.
• Provides leaders and CEOs a platform to connect with their company and team.
• Receive valuable feedback from your team.

Interaction

During this time of social distancing , many people have grown bored with Netflix and have instead started looking for ways to connect with other people online. That’s led to Twitch reaching its highest numbers of all time .

That’s because watching streamers includes interaction. There’s a chat, the streamer responds — sometimes they even let followers play games with them or win prizes. This train of thought can be utilized in business meetings as well.

A live Q&A session allows you to boost your interaction with your employees in real-time. You’ll learn valuable information while also building trust and loyalty within the company since they’ll feel heard and appreciated.

Having the chance to communicate will also ensure they are invested in the meeting and won’t become as distracted.

During the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a lot less time to have face-to-face conversations with your employees, so they can sometimes feel disconnected. This is a chance to interact with them in real-time, while also making sure everyone is on the same page .

‍ 54% of remote workers in 2019 (before COVID-19) felt disconnected from the company. That number has probably increased. Q&A sessions ensure that you can make those personal connections with employees and teams . They’ll appreciate you taking the time to answer their questions and concerns directly and personally.

When Should You Host a Live Q&A Session?

While having online meetings is vital when face-to-face discussions and meetings can’t happen; it’s still important to limit the number of meetings you have. A study by the Harvard Business Review revealed that 65% of managers felt that meetings kept them from completing their work.

‍ 71% said meetings are unproductive , and 64% said meetings “come at the expense of deep thinking.” Perhaps even more important, 62% of managers felt that meetings miss opportunities to bring teams closer together .

So while meetings shouldn’t take over your workweek, the meetings you DO have should focus on building teams and connecting everyone. That’s why Q&As are so important — and that’s why every meeting should end with a Q&A session.

Time of Day

When hosting a Q&A session, you want to pick the most optimal time to have the most people present. But the best time is different for everyone. The best thing to do is ask the employees who are participating in the meeting what time of day works best for them. Find out when they are most productive and let them work during those times, if possible.

A recent study found that employees are their most productive in the mornings during the first few days of the week. So it might be best to hold off your meeting until afternoon on Wednesday, using the Q&A as a mid-week check-in.

‍ Related: Interactive Online Meeting Ideas

How to Prepare for a Q&A Session

Planning and leading a Q&A session is harder than you might think. Here are a few quick tips on how to host a live Q&A session successfully:

• Practice ahead of time: In almost any situation, practice makes perfect . Practice receiving and answering questions on the spot. Understand how to thank someone for a great question and, if you can manage it in a live session, refer to them by name in your answer.If you can, practice your presentation with a friend or colleague, and have them direct questions towards you that you may have a hard time answering during the Q&A. ‍
• Consider possible questions: Consider questions you’re likely to receive so that you can brainstorm about the best answers . Try to look at things from your audience’s perspective to see what they are expecting to take out of the Q&A.‍ Confident and concise answers can go a long way. Remember to stay brief when you respond — don’t let your answer turn into a speech. ‍
• Tackle difficult questions gracefully: In a live Q&A session, anything can come up at any time. Prep a cover-all response to address odd or inappropriate questions that don’t fit the bill. For example, you might say, “That’s a great question, and although I don’t feel it’s appropriate to answer at this time, I’d be happy to address it one-on-one after the session.”You can also try and guide their question into something more relevant to your Q&A. ‍
• Tell the audience in advance: Give the audience a chance to come up with some quality questions by letting them know there will be a Q&A time with the help of MeetingPulse’s live question and answer session software platform . Besides soliciting better questions, it lessens the likelihood of long periods of awkward silence. You can even ask them to submit questions ahead of time! ‍
• Define ground rules: Let the audience know how to conduct themselves appropriately. Perhaps you want audience members to give a particular type of introduction before they speak — or use technology in a certain way. Let them know; this provides the session with structure and helps to maintain order.

• Plant questions: Consider queuing some questions in advance if you’re using an audience response system — or consider preparing a member of the audience so that they are ready to ask relevant questions of silence ensues. Whether it’s used during or at the beginning, prepared questions can help sessions to run smoothly . ‍
• Avoid debates: If a question is charged, inappropriate, or provocative, don’t engage in a debate. Avoid dramatic dialogues — as it’s disrespectful to the audience and reflects poorly on the presenter. Simply dismiss the question with a vague answer, or let them know that it is not relevant, and move on to the next participant. ‍
• Consider moderation: If you are hosting a large event, it might make sense to have someone on hand who can go around the audience to take questions. A moderator can also filter through questions to ensure that the questions that make it your way are appropriate and worthwhile . ‍
• Watch the time: Have a clock or timer within view during the session. Do your best not to go over time, even if there are quite a few questions. Ensure that your presentation is short enough that you will have plenty of time during the Q&A session.Try to plan for at least 25% of the allotted time to answer the audience’s questions. ‍
• Try not to point at the audience: Although pointing is common, it’s not the best approach as it can be perceived as overbearing or rude. This is especially true when you don’t know how the person asking the question feels when it comes to speaking in front of large crowds; try to make them feel as comfortable as possible .Use your eyes to single out audience members and describe who you intend to speak to next rather than pointing at them.

Tools to Use for Q & A

Do you need to quickly create a Q&A session for an upcoming meeting or event? The MeetingPulse audience response system makes setup a snap.

If you’re already a user or if you’ve signed up for our free trial via the page below, you can have a new question and answer session up and running in a matter of seconds!

To create a question and answer session using our audience engagement & response system , simply sign in and create a new meeting. Then, emulate the steps demonstrated in our 15-second instructional Q&A session video below. By default, the Q&A toggle is on, so literally all you have to do is name and run your meeting!

The toggle on the main page in the video above determines whether questions and other features, like polling, are on or off for your meeting.

Additional toggles on the “Questions” page (not shown in the video) are available if you’d like to tailor the type of Q&A session you will be conducting. The default is an unmoderated session that will take place during your meeting, but you can specify if you’d like a moderated or unmoderated session to run either during or before your meeting.

Lastly, start your meeting! This entire process can happen in 15 seconds with our simple, intuitive audience response system. It’s that easy! Now you know how quickly you can create a Q&A session using our browser-based audience response system.

If you’d also like to learn how to set up a poll in 25 seconds with our audience response system, visit our post about quick polls .

If you haven’t yet signed up for the MeetingPulse free trial, consider it. We are happy to provide you with free access to create and run polls , surveys, pulses, raffles, and Q&A sessions .

Thanks to our simple audience response system, anyone can have new Q&A sessions up and running in no time!

During the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of employees can feel detached from their company. Many are new to remote work and are used to having the opportunity to talk with you and their co-workers face-to-face.

A live Q&A session during an online meeting can help them feel connected to you and the company while also allowing them to clear up any questions or concerns.

If you’re looking for an interactive meeting tool that engages your employees, contact Meeting Pulse today .

‍ Related: Avoiding Online Meeting Burnout

‍ At MeetingPulse , we provide real-time survey and polling software that runs in any browser, so you’ll never need to download an app. Anyone can easily participate using their mobile device or computer via a short link.

The MeetingPulse audience response system was developed with simplicity in mind and offers a wide array of customizable options to fit your interactive meeting needs.

Please contact us for more information on our audience response system or click on “Keep Me Posted” on our blog page to receive blog updates and our free e-book.

Get started with MeetingPulse today!

Share this article on your socials, latest posts.

Boosting Audience Engagement with Interactive Presentation Tools

Enhancing Employee Engagement with Interactive Meeting Software

Cool Ideas for Your Hot Summer

The Benefits of Language-Inclusive Meetings and Events

Blog categories.

• Audience Response Tools
• Best Practices
• Employee Engagement
• Event Planning
• Hybrid Events
• Leadership Techniques
• Meeting Prep
• Organizational Development
• Uncategorized

To make MeetingPulse a seamless addition to your meetings, we offer custom themes. You can use your own logo and your colors in Attendee View as well as Broadcast View. Your company name can also be included in the webpage’s title. Your meeting can also have its own domain. This is great if you are going to promote your meeting offline. For example, you could use “acme2022.com” instead of “meet.ps/acme-all-hands”.

Live Product Tours

Weekly Product Tour Every Wednesday

• Success Stories
• Integrations
• Help Center
• Cvent Marketplace
• Connect with Zapier
• Trust Center
• System Status
• MeetingPulse User Reviews

• Alternatives 🔥

Hosting Live Q&A Session | 10 Tips To Success in 2024

Leah Nguyen • 13 March, 2024 • 10 min read

Hosting live Q&A Sessions successfully is a chance to connect! Here's how to encourage even the quietest audience members to participate and create a lively discussion.

We've covered you with these 10 tips to turn your Live Q&A session (a Questions and answers session) into a huge success!

Level up your Live Q&A ! The right audience participation app can boost engagement and energize your presentation. Here are some steps to host a free live Q&A session successfully, where you can guide the conversation and encourage insightful questions. Check out how to ask questions appropriately during your gatherings!

Table of Contents

• What is a Q&A session?
• Why should you host a Q&A session?
• #1 - Dedicate the time
• #2 - Warm-up Q&A
• #3 - Prepare a back-up
• #4 - Use technology

#5 - Rephrase your questions

• #6 - Announce beforehand
• #7 - Q&A feedback
• #8 - Use a moderator
• #9 - Get anonymous
• #10 - How to Ask Questions
• Good Questions to Ask the Host After Presentation

Boost Participation and Clarity with a Q&A Platform

More funs in your icebreaker session.

Instead of a boring orientation, let's start a fun quiz to engage with your mates. Sign up to take free quiz from AhaSlides template library!

What is a Q&A Session?

A Q&A session (or questions and answers sessions) is a segment included in the presentation, Ask me Anything or all-hands meeting that gives attendees the opportunity to voice out their opinions and clarify any confusion they have about a topic. Presenters usually push this at the end of the talk, but in our opinion, Q&A sessions can also be initiated at the beginning as a fantastic ice-breaker activity !

HR Management - How to Run a Great Q&A Session

Why Should You Host a Q&A Session?

A Q&A session lets you, the presenter, establish an authentic and dynamic connection with your attendees , which keeps them coming back for more. If they walk away feeling they've been heard and their concerns have been addressed, chances are that it's because you nailed the Q&A segment.

10 Tips for an Engaging Q&A Session

Make your interactive presentations more memorable, valuable and personable with a killer Q&A session. Here's how...

#1 - Dedicate more time to your Q&A

Don't think of Q&A as the last few minutes of your presentation. The value of a Q&A session lies in its ability to connect the presenter and the audience, so make the most out of this time, firstly by dedicating more to it.

An ideal time slot would be 1/4 or 1/5 of your presentation , and sometimes the longer, the better. For example, I recently went to a talk by L'oreal where it took the speaker more than 30 minutes to address most (not all) of the questions from the audience!

#2 - Start with a warm-up Q&A

Breaking the ice with a Q&A lets people know more about you personally before the real meat of the presentation begins. They can state their expectations and concerns through the Q&A so you will know if you should focus on one particular segment more than others.

Make sure to be welcoming and approachable when answering those questions. If the audience's tension is relieved, they will be more lively and a lot more engaged in your talk.

#3 - Always prepare a back-up plan

Don't jump straight into the Q&A session if you haven't prepared a single thing! The awkward silence and subsequent embarrassment from your own lack of readiness could potentially kill you.

Brainstorm at least 5-8 questions that the audience may ask, then prep the answers for them. If no one ends up asking those questions, you can introduce them yourself by saying "some people often ask me..." . It's a natural way to get the ball rolling.

#4 - Use technology to empower your audience

Asking your audience to publicly announce their concerns/questions is an outdated method, especially during online presentations where everything feels distant and it's more uncomfortable to talk to a static screen.

Investing in free tech tools can lift a great barrier in your Q&A sessions. Mainly because...

• Participants can submit questions anonymously, so they don't feel self-conscious
• All questions are listed, no question gets lost.
• You can organise the questions by most popular, most recent and ones you've answered already.
• Everyone can submit, not just the person who raises their hand.

Gotta Catch 'Em All

Grab a big net - you'll need one for all those burning questions. Let the audience ask easily anywhere, anytime with this live Q&A tool!

This is not a test, so it's recommended that you avoid using yes/no questions, like " Do you have any questions for me?", or " Are you content with the details we provided? ". You are most likely to get the silent treatment.

Instead, try rephrasing those questions to something that will provoke an emotional reaction , such as " How did this make you feel? " or " How far did this presentation go in addressing your concerns? ". You'll likely get people thinking a bit more deeply when the question is less generic and you'll definitely get some more interesting questions.

#6 - Announce the Q&A session beforehand

When you open the door for questions, the attendees are still in the listening mode, processing all the information they just heard. Therefore, when they are put on the spot, they may end up being silent rather than asking a maybe-silly-or-not question that they haven't had time to properly think out.

To counter this, you can announce your Q&A intentions right at the start of your presentation. This lets your audience prepare themselves to think up questions while you're talking.

Protip 💡 Many Q&A tools let your audience submit questions at any time in your presentation while the question is fresh in their minds. You gather them throughout and can address them all at the end.

#7 - Hold a personalised Q&A after the event

Like I just mentioned, sometimes the best questions don't pop into your attendees' heads until everyone's left the room.

To catch these late questions, you can email your guests encouraging them to ask more questions. When there's a chance to have their questions answered in a personalised 1-on-1 format, your guests should take full advantage.

If there are any questions where you feel the answer would benefit all your other guests, ask for permission to forward the question and answer to everyone else.

#8 - Get a moderator involved

If you are presenting at a large-scale event, you'll likely need a companion to help with the whole process.

A moderator can help with everything in a Q&A session, including filtering questions, categorising questions and even submitting their own questions anonymously to get the ball rolling.

In turbulent moments, having them read the questions out loud also lets you have more time to think about the answers clearly.

#9 - Allow people to ask anonymously

Sometimes the fear of looking foolish outweighs our urge to be curious. It's especially true in larger events that the vast majority of attendees dare not raise their hand amongst the sea of onlookers.

That's how a Q&A session with an option to ask questions anonymously comes to the rescue. Even a simple tool can help the shyest individuals come out of their shells and press interesting questions, using just their phones, judgment-free!

💡 Need a list of free tools to help with that? Check out our list of the top 5 Q&A apps !

#10 - Questions to Ask During a Q&A Session

Need ideas on good questions to ask a presenter after a presentation? Here are some good questions to ask a presenter after a presentation:

• Can you elaborate briefly on [specific point or topic] that you mentioned during your presentation?
• How does the information you presented today relate to or impact [relevant industry, field, or current events]?
• Have any recent developments or trends in the subject matter that you find particularly noteworthy?
• Could you provide examples or case studies that illustrate the practical application of the concepts you discussed?
• What potential challenges or obstacles do you foresee in implementing the ideas or solutions you presented?
• Are there any additional resources, references, or further reading materials you would recommend for those interested in diving deeper into this topic?
• In your experience, what have been some successful strategies or best practices for [related topic or goal] that you could share with us?
• How do you see this field or industry evolving, and what implications might it have?
• Is there any ongoing research or projects that you or your organization are involved in which align with the subject matter of your presentation?
• Could you highlight any key takeaways or actionable insights you want the audience to remember from your presentation?

These questions can help initiate a meaningful discussion, seek additional clarification or insights, and encourage the presenter to provide more in-depth information or personal perspectives. Remember to tailor the questions to the specific content and context of the presentation.

What are good questions to ask a presenter after a presentation?

Good questions to ask a presenter after a presentation depending on the specific topic and your interests, so let's check out few options in general categories, as it could be effective questions to ask a presenter after a presentation

Clarification questions

• Can you elaborate on [specific point]?
• Could you explain [concept] in more detail?
• Can you give an example of how this applies to [real-world situation]?

Deeper exploration questions

• What are the challenges associated with [topic]?
• How does this concept relate to [broader topic]?
• What are the potential future implications of [idea]?

Action-oriented questions

• What are the next steps for implementing this [idea]?
• What resources would you recommend for learning more about this topic?
• How can we get involved in this project/movement?

Engaging questions

• What surprised you the most during your research on this topic?
• What are you most passionate about in this field?
• What is one piece of advice you would give to someone interested in learning more about [topic]

Presentation pro? Great, but we all know even the best-laid plans have holes. AhaSlides' interactive Q&A platform patches any gaps in real time.

No more staring blankly as one lonely voice drones on. Now anyone, anywhere can join the conversation. Raise a virtual hand from your phone and ask away - anonymity means no fear of judgment if you don’t get it.

Ready to spark meaningful dialogue? Grab an AhaSlides account for free💪

Ref: Live Center

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a q&a.

A Q&A, short for "Question and Answer," is a format commonly used to facilitate communication and exchange of information. In a Q&A session, one or more individuals, typically an expert or a panel of experts, respond to questions posed by an audience or participants. The purpose of a Q&A session is to provide an opportunity for people to inquire about specific topics or issues and receive direct responses from knowledgeable individuals. Q&A sessions are commonly employed in various settings, including conferences, interviews, public forums, presentations, and online platforms.

How to host a Q&A session?

Participants can ask questions about the subject matter or seek clarification on specific points. The individuals leading the session then provide their insights, expertise, or opinions in response to the questions. In an online context, Q&A sessions can take place through platforms that allow users to submit questions, which are answered either in real-time or later by the designated expert or speaker. This format enables a broader audience to participate and benefit from the knowledge-sharing process.

What is a virtual Q&A?

A virtual Q&A replicates the live discussion of an in-person Q&A time but over video conference or web instead of face-to-face.

Which is not a benefit offered by having a question-and-answer (Q&A) session during a presentation?

Time Constraints: Q&A sessions can consume a significant amount of time, especially if there are numerous questions or if the discussion becomes extensive. This can potentially impact the overall schedule of the presentation or limit the time available for other important content. If time is limited, it may be challenging to address all the questions thoroughly or engage in an in-depth discussion.

Leah Nguyen

Words that convert, stories that stick. I turn complex ideas into engaging narratives - helping audiences learn, remember, and take action.

Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia

More from AhaSlides

Newly Launched - AI Presentation Maker

Researched by Consultants from Top-Tier Management Companies

AI PPT Maker

Powerpoint Templates

Icon Bundle

Kpi Dashboard

Professional

Business Plans

Swot Analysis

Gantt Chart

Business Proposal

Marketing Plan

Project Management

Business Case

Business Model

Cyber Security

Business PPT

Digital Marketing

Digital Transformation

Human Resources

Product Management

Artificial Intelligence

Company Profile

Acknowledgement PPT

PPT Presentation

Reports Brochures

One Page Pitch

Interview PPT

All Categories

Must-Have Q&A Slide Templates with Samples and Examples

Simran Shekhawat

“The power to question is the basis of all human progress." 

– Indira Gandhi. 

How beautifully the late Prime Minister of India has put it - the power to frame and ask questions is a step that starts with curiosity and ends with progress. The system or procedure of designing and performing a question-and-answer session is essential to learning.

We inquire about things to learn more about them and respond to inquiries to share more details. We ask and respond to questions to be courteous and to establish and sustain connections. Asking and responding to questions is not only a component of how we learn but also a part of our social skills. The answer to any problem is to ask questions. Asking the proper questions is frequently the first step in seeking solutions when faced with difficulties or doubts. 

In turn, solutions offer knowledge and direction for successfully resolving issues. Answers offer justifications that can improve understanding sessions and aid in effective communication in various contexts, such as talks, interviews, and presentations. They enable people to communicate ideas, impart knowledge, and interact with others in a planned way.

Learn how feedbacks are successful in determining business market trends. Click here!

To effectively provide insights into the business challenges that your company must face, we have devised excellent q&a slide templates that give you the flexibility to frame your questions and change the icons, images, or patterns per your business norms. It is customizable, editable and content-ready. You are just a step away from getting your solutions. Check out these brilliant templates now.

Conduct your event survey with the help of this template. Click Here!

Devise effective sales call strategies by checking out this impeccable template. Check Now!

Let’s start to choose Q&A slide templates for you.

Template 1 – image of q and a with added text.

Imagine a PPT Template that is efficient enough to provide you the flexibility to add and edit questions of your choices to determine the solutions you seek. Grab this simple yet compelling question-and-answer template, allowing participants to contribute to conversations and express their opinions. Businesses, marketers, policymakers, and stakeholders can utilize this template to know the most about the company. Use this template to determine your next big move!

Download Now!

Template 2 – Q and A Discussion in Recruitment Process Icon

Here's an exclusive template slide for a proper recruitment process that makes the recruitment process easy in no time. The Q&A layout is an essential component of the hiring procedure since it promotes transparency and guarantees that candidates and the company can confidently make decisions regarding possible employment. With this template slide, the recruitment team can better comprehend the candidate's personality and ability to dedicate his efforts toward the business. Use this presentation template to rate the personality of the candidate. Analyze the responses gathered to determine their position in the company.

Click Here!

Template 3 – Image of Q and A with a Thank You

This is a template that is creative yet effective in demonstrating its effectivity where you can out questions that are more important than answers because questions seek to understand clarity and frame and evaluate. In contrast, at their best, answers are temporary responses whose relative quality can decay with time. Update and frame your questions here to seek out the best possible answer. This template is designed to identify the audience's perceptions of certain specific questions. You can use this template in business meetings, conferences, or events to welcome reviews or feedback for any particular event. The template looks stunning with its 'Thank You text appearing at the corner to determine an interactive session.

Template 4 – Q and A icon with two persons

Establish a three–tier stage process for a practical question and answer session round. This template enables you to edit icons and design features as needed. Educational institutions, events workshops conducting programmers, and businesses can utilize this template to analyze the outcome of an event through the course of this three–tier effective template structure where you can comprehend the answers to specific questions, understand communication skills and practical cognitive abilities which includes their thinking, decision making, and problem-solving capabilities.

Questions and Answers; a path towards progression

Asking the proper questions has always led to revolutionary inventions and discoveries throughout history. Inquiries pique people's curiosity and creativity, inspiring them to explore new possibilities. Question and answer exchanges in a professional setting help with ongoing progress. They offer input and knowledge that can result in better procedures, goods, and services. Understanding the importance of Questions and answers SlideTeam has devised various attractive Q and A templates that helps business to formulate, design and analyze their next big move for their companies. These templates are 100% customizable editable and as per the requirements of the situations. Download Now!

FAQS on Q&A

1. what is q&a.

Q&A is a word that stands for "Questions and Answers." It describes a style or manner of communication in which individuals or groups converse by asking questions and receiving answers. Q&A sessions are frequently used to acquire data, spread knowledge, and interact with a crowd. Based on the situation, they may be formal or informal.

2. What is the complete form of the word Q&A?

The complete form of the word Q&A is Question and Answer.

3. How do Q&As Work

A Q&A session's common goals include knowledge sharing, information gathering, doubt clarification, and audience interaction. Here's how a Q&A works.

• Setting questions based on the context - A questioner or participants are one or more people who inquire about the subject. These inquiries might be planned or made up on the spot. Before or during the Q&A session, questions may occasionally be submitted in writing or online.
• Answering - The questions are answered by another person or group of people, frequently an expert, panelist, speaker, or interviewee. Answers are the name given to these responses. Depending on the Q&A session's format, answers may be given orally, in writing, or in another way.
• Interaction - Q&A sessions involve an engaging back-and-forth of questions and responses. Based on the responses, participants may ask for clarification or more information. The level of engagement can vary from a straightforward question-and-answer style to more extended conversations and arguments.
• Conclusion - The Q&A session usually concludes after the allotted time has passed or when the moderator or organizer decides to do so.
• The session may be concluded with a summary or closing remarks.
• Documentation - Depending on the circumstance, Q&A sessions might be filmed, typed down, or preserved for dissemination or later use.

4. What is online Q&A?

Online Q&A is a form of participation and interaction in which individuals or groups address questions through digital platforms, and responses or answers are then given. Through websites, forums, social media, email, live chats, and other internet-based communication tools, online Q&A can be enabled in various ways.

Related posts:

• Top 10 Training Survey Templates with Samples and Examples
• Top 10 Feedback Form Templates with Samples and Examples
• Top 10 Product Satisfaction Survey Templates with Samples and Examples
• Top 7 Training Scorecard Templates with Samples and Examples

Liked this blog? Please recommend us

10 Key Elements to Include in Your Marketing Business Plan (Free PPT)

Must-Have Security Action Plan Templates with Samples and Examples

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA - the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

• Speech Writing
• Delivery Techniques
• PowerPoint & Visuals
• Speaker Habits
• Speaker Resources

Speech Critiques

• Book Reviews
• Browse Articles
• ALL Articles
• Learn About Us
• About Six Minutes
• Meet Our Authors
• Write for Us
• Advertise With Us

Leading the Perfect Q&A

A great Q&A session – one that adds value to your presentation – requires planning and thoughtful contributions from both the audience and the speaker.

Q&A from Audience Perspective

From the perspective of audience members, Gretchen Rubin offers ten tips for asking questions from the audience :

Wait for the microphone, if there is one. Pause for silence – don’t talk over a chattering crowd. Don’t make excuses for yourself. This is tiresome and unnecessary. Don’t address speakers by their first names. Some people will disagree with me, I’m sure, but this always strikes me as affected and inappropriately familiar, unless the mood of the presentation is extremely casual. Don’t be long-winded. Plan it out. This will help you avoid being long-winded. Don’t ask double question. Give other people a chance. If appropriate, say a little about yourself. Just a little. Speak up. Nothing’s more frustrating to the audience than not being able to hear a question. Remember: you’ll be happy that you asked a question. I’m one of those people who rarely asks a question at such an occasion. I never spoke in class in law school. But whenever I do participate, I feel more engaged and enjoy myself more. I’m working on speaking up.

Though it isn’t always the case, let’s assume that your audience has read and followed Ms. Rubin’s excellent advice. If so, then the audience will fulfill their half of the Q&A contract. What can you do as a speaker to ensure a great Q&A?

Before the Q&A

• Plan for a Q&A. Too often, speakers fill their entire allotted time with their (formal) presentation. The consequence is that the Q&A session either doesn’t happen (everyone loses) or it is forced to run overtime (audience members may be hungry, irritated, or have to leave). Budget for the Q&A when you plan the presentation. Cut material as necessary to ensure you allow time for the Q&A.
• Be prepared. Anticipate the questions that will be asked. Look at your presentation objectively, and use your audience analysis to predict their questions. When appropriate, prepare a few “extra” slides (perhaps the ones that you cut out of your final formal presentation) that will assist in addressing questions during the Q&A. If you have presented the material before, the questions you have received in the past are likely to come up again if you have not altered the core presentation.
• Announce the Q&A. Some speakers welcome questions throughout a presentation; most speakers, however, prefer to handle questions near the end. If you fall into the latter group, don’t leave your audience wondering if there will be a Q&A. Announce this early, and you will accomplish two things: (1) Your audience is reassured that they will have a chance to pose questions and (2) Your audience is encouraged to start thinking of questions.
• Encourage questions. When you announce the Q&A session, be positive. “I look forward to addressing your questions” rather than “At 10:45, we’ll have the obligatory fifteen minutes for questions.” At certain points in your presentation, you may also want to encourage questions. “Does anyone have any questions about this process?” or “If anyone has questions or comments about this process, please bring them forward in the Q&A session.”

“ Budget for the Q&A when you plan the presentation. Cut material as necessary to ensure you allow time for the Q&A. ”

During the Q&A

• Restate the question, perhaps in your own words. Doing this provides two benefits. First, you increase the likelihood that the audience has heard the question. Second, you increase the likelihood that you understand the question before you proceed to answer it.
• Don’t assume everyone in your audience has the same background knowledge about the question that you do. No audience member wants to hear a response like “Yes, John, the ___ strategy would be appropriate for a company like yours because…” if they don’t know which company is being referred to or what kind of company it is. Share any contextual knowledge you have so that the audience better understands the question as well as your answer. A better alternative would be “[setting the context] John is the CEO of Frodo Solutions, a consulting company which helps small businesses with ___. [now, addressing the question] Yes, John, the ___ strategy would be appropriate for a company like yours because…”
• Give your full attention to the person asking the question. Show them professional courtesy by listening to their entire question before beginning your response. If you interrupt, the message you are sending is “I’m not really interested in your question. I’m more interested in talking…”
• Keep the questions on topic. Too often, presenters will say “This is getting off topic, but the answer is…” and then proceed to bore most of the audience. It is better to say “That’s a great question, but a little off topic. Let’s discuss that offline.” Use the same approach if you are asked a question that would just take too long to adequately answer within the time allotted.
• Don’t let a single person dominate the Q&A. Maybe they are a heckler with an intent to disrupt, or maybe they just feel that all of their questions need to be given priority. In either case, be assertive and deflect their questions offline. Give other audience members a chance to ask their questions.
• Be truthful. If you don’t know the answer, then say you don’t know the answer. Don’t lie. Don’t mislead. Don’t tap dance around the question for two minutes giving your sales pitch without ever addressing the question. Don’t risk your integrity to avoid embarrassment. Acknowledge that you don’t know the answer. Consider asking your audience if anyone has the answer.

After the Q&A

• Invite follow-up questions. Stick around after your presentation, or make yourself available at a later time. Provide contact information. Your goal is to leave no question unanswered.
• Don’t end your presentation with your last Q&A response. This is generally a weak conclusion, especially if the last question/answer was negative or neutral. Save your concluding words (and perhaps your final slides) for after the formal Q&A.

Some speaking opportunities do not allow for a full Q&A session (e.g. the 60-second elevator pitch). However, the majority of presentations are enhanced by the inclusion of a productive Q&A session. Do your part, and trust that the audience will do theirs.

What have I missed? Please share your tips for leading a great Q&A session. 🙂

Other Q&A Resources

• David Greenberg: How to Master the Question-And-Answer Session
• Speaker’s Bank: Top 10 Tips for Handling a Question and Answer Session

Please share this...

This is one of many public speaking articles featured on Six Minutes . Subscribe to Six Minutes for free to receive future articles.

Image credit: lusi

Add a Comment Cancel reply

E-Mail (hidden)

Subscribe - It's Free!

Similar Articles You May Like...

• Q&A Tips from Toastmasters International President
• 10 Phrases Savvy Speakers Never Say
• How to Manage 8 Tough Personas in a Group Discussion
• How to Lead a Discussion Group
• How to Plan a Great Group Discussion
• How to Ace the Impromptu Speech

Find More Articles Tagged:

Love your Q&A tips. It would be extremely useful for training sessions too. Keep it up Andrew!

Yes, these tips apply to many “audience interaction” or “audience participation” scenarios.

Great information! Your point “Don’t end your presentation with your last Q&A response” – is one I stress to new leaders.

Again, thanks for the tips.

Excellent tips here, Andrew.

Here are two more: 1. Prime the pump! Sometimes no one wants to be the first to ask a question, so ask the first one yourself! Say, “One of the questions I’m typically asked is. “…”

2. When starting the Q&A, don’t say, “Do you have any questions?” Some may interpret that statement to mean they weren’t listening or didn’t understand the message. Better to say, while raising your hand high in the air, “What questions to you have for me?”

Thanks for the Post!

You can also provide index cards for audience members so they may write down their questions as they come up and suggest that they provide their contact information so you can answer them in the event time does not permit during your session.

Recent Tweets

RT @dnewman: Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — Samuel Jay Smith Sep 30th, 2010

RT @dnewman: Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — Sean V. Bradley Oct 1st, 2010

RT @dnewman Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — J D Ebberly Oct 9th, 2010

RT @JDEbberly: RT @dnewman Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — Kevin Loker Oct 9th, 2010

RT @dnewman: Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — Stephanie Scotti Oct 12th, 2010

RT @dnewman: Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — KarlaScott Oct 12th, 2010

Tips for leading the perfect Q&A: http://bit.ly/bhKgRX #speaking — David Newman Nov 30th, 2010

Speakers: Leading the Perfect Q&A http://t.co/tLFfpCDU via @6minutes — Fred E. Miller Dec 14th, 2011

Speakers: Leading the Perfect Q&A http://t.co/tLFfpCDU via @6minutes — Sheldon J Harber CFP Dec 14th, 2011

Leading the Perfect Q&A http://t.co/lhWwixd1Uf via @6minutes — @tgillihan Aug 24th, 2015

5 Blog Links

The Public Speaking Blog » You At The Back. Yes, You… (How Do You Manage An Effective Q & A Session?) — Feb 14th, 2008

8 tips for encouraging questions in your presentation : Speaking about Presenting — Nov 26th, 2008

The 25 Essential Presentation Skills for Public Speaking | David Edgerton Jr — May 6th, 2010

10 Ways Your Presentation Skills Generate Career Promotions | www.inextworld.com — May 26th, 2012

How to Handle Questions during your Presentation | Moving People to Action — Mar 25th, 2013

Featured Articles

• Majora Carter (TED, 2006) Energy, Passion, Speaking Rate
• Hans Rosling (TED, 2006) 6 Techniques to Present Data
• J.A. Gamache (Toastmasters, 2007) Gestures, Prop, Writing
• Steve Jobs (Stanford, 2005) Figures of speech, rule of three
• Al Gore (TED, 2006) Humor, audience interaction
• Dick Hardt (OSCON, 2005) Lessig Method of Presentation

Books We Recommend

Six Minutes Copyright © 2007-2022 All Rights Reserved.

Read our permissions policy , privacy policy , or disclosure policy .

Comments? Questions? Contact us .

A 4-Step Plan to Make Your Q&A More Audience-Friendly

by Lauren Weinstein and Matt Abrahams

Summary .   

The Q&A or fireside chat has become a popular format at events like conferences and employee town-halls, replacing more-formal presentations and panels. But to make the format work, the person being interviewed has to prepare. Four steps — easily remembered by the acronym FIRE — can help. First, think about framing . Instead of focusing on what you want to say, figure out what you think your audience needs to hear. Second, pay attention to inclusion . Use language that brings your audience along with you. Third, organize what you have to say with rails , or a structure like “Problem-Solution-Benefit,” “Comparison-Contrast-Conclusion,” or “What? > So What? > Now What?.” Last but not least, examples will illustrate what you have to say and make it memorable.

The Q&A or fireside chat has become a popular format at events like conferences and employee town-halls, replacing more-formal presentations and panels. The one-on-one format can create a more conversational, interesting, and intimate experience, and has the added benefit that the CEO or luminary being interviewed theoretically doesn’t have to prepare as much.

Partner Center

How to Facilitate a Successful Q&A Session

A Q&A session has the potential to be the most important part of your company meetings.

It’s a way to give employees a voice – a chance to ask questions to leadership and raise any concerns.

On the other hand, Q&As allow leaders to connect with employees at scale and in turn, create trust within the company.

Hybrid work has made this more important than ever.

Especially at larger online meetings such as all-hands and town halls, there aren’t many opportunities for employees to speak up and be heard.

In this article, we’ll show you how to design and facilitate a successful Q&A session at your hybrid company meetings.

What you’ll learn:

What is a Q&A session?

Why is q&a important, how to set up and facilitate a q&a session at your meeting.

Let’s dive right in.

Q&A (Questions-and-Answers) sessions are formats that allow audiences to ask questions to the speakers. Q&As originate in the events industry, where short Q&A blocks are typically held after each speaker slot to engage the audience and give them a chance to ask the speaker additional questions.

Q&A sessions have also found their way into companies. Many companies made Q&A sessions a regular part of their all-hands meetings or town hall meetings to allow for a communication flow between their employees and leadership.

Others, like Slack , Facebook , or IBM run standalone “Ask Me Anything” sessions with their CEO and executives.

Running a Q&A session is important because it helps bridge the gap between employees and company executives. When done over time, this builds a trusted and transparent culture and promotes inclusion and diversity in the workplace.

Effective internal communication Since hybrid work has made interactions between employees and leadership even more scarce, Q&A sessions provide an important avenue for effective internal communication.

Transparency & Trust Open Q&As help leaders keep healthy two-way communication with their staff, which is an important factor for employees to trust their leaders .

Diversity & Inclusion By opening a forum for employee questions, companies give their employees a voice and support diversity of thought and opinion in the workplace.

Read also: Employee interaction is the tip of the meeting iceberg

Below, you’ll find the best practices that will help you pull off a successful Questions-and-Answers session at your company meeting.

Or would you rather watch a video? Here you are:

1. Include Q&A directly in your agenda and dedicate enough time to it

Make the Q&A section a fixed part of your all-company meeting agenda to keep a regular communication flow with your employees. Running regular Q&A sessions will also help you keep an eye on the overall atmosphere in your organization and detect any changes or patterns.

Also, make sure to dedicate a substantial amount of time to the Q&A part. Only then will you create a meaningful discussion with your staff.

A rushed Q&A session may fail to hit the mark, and even backfire – your employees may feel as though leaders don’t care about their questions and concerns.

• At Slido, we allocate one-third of our all-hands meeting agenda to the Q&A – out of a 90-minute meeting, we spend 30 minutes answering questions from our teammates.
• At Google, a Q&A makes up one-half of their weekly all-hands meetings called TGIF – they run a 30-minute meeting, followed by a 30-minute Q&A with Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

2. Collect questions from your employees via a Q&A platform

At large company meetings, and especially when run online, it’s impractical to have people ask questions verbally. Not only does it create friction (people unmuting themselves, or jumping in the discussion), but it also isn’t inclusive of those who aren’t comfortable with speaking up.

By using Slido Q&A , you can allow everyone to ask questions asynchronously in advance at a time that suits them best, no matter what their timezone.

All they have to do is simply type their questions in the app (they can even stay anonymous) – and you’ll run more organized Q&A sessions.

Plus, you will have all the questions in one place. During the Q&A, you can display them on the screen and make it easier for your team to follow the discussion.

💡 Tip If your company’s new to Slido, give it a proper introduction among your employees. Explain to your employees how they can join your Slido event and send their questions in.

3. Start collecting questions from employees in advance

Allow your employees to submit their questions even before the meeting. They will have more time to think their questions through and your leaders will have an opportunity to check the questions before the meeting and prepare more elaborate answers.

For example, we share a link to Slido Q&A with our colleagues about a week before the all-hands meeting.

You can share a link to your Slido event via:

• Slack Share a link to Slido Q&A with your colleagues in a dedicated Slack channel
• Calendar Paste the link to the calendar invite, along with a Zoom link, and other important details
• Email Send the Slido link to your colleagues in an invite email and encourage them to submit their questions

💡 Tip By collecting questions in advance, even those who can’t join the meeting in person will be able to ask questions. They will see their question answered when they watch the meeting recording.

4. Appoint a Q&A moderator

To make your Q&A even more effective, have a dedicated person to moderate the discussion. What actually works really well is running your Q&A session as a natural conversation.

Have your moderator read each question out loud and assign it to a concrete person to answer it. This will take your Q&A session from one to 100 and will be much more engaging for your audience to watch and listen to.

A good Q&A moderator will also help keep the discussion organized and relevant by grouping similar questions together, or following up on some of the questions to get the best answers.

💡 Tip Especially with larger meetings, it’s handy to appoint someone to review the incoming questions , archive duplicate questions or those already answered, and highlight the current questions.

5. Keep reminding people to ask questions

Even if you’ve collected some questions in advance, a good practice is to give your employees a gentle reminder at the beginning of the meeting so they don’t forget to ask questions.

Have your moderator encourage people to keep sending their questions throughout the meeting and repeat the call to action by the end.

Our all-hands moderator, Juraj Holub, often does this trick: After a block of business updates, he prompts people to take a moment, think of what they’ve just heard, and then submit a question should they have one.

6. Use upvotes to keep the discussion relevant

‘Question upvotes’ is a fantastic feature that allows employees to influence which questions will get answered with priority. They can simply give a question a thumbs up to upvote it if they think it’s relevant. You can even enable downvotes that allow them to do the very opposite – send the question down.

It’s a great way to keep the discussion relevant and to the point. Also, it allows employees to express their support for certain questions or topics, even if they don’t want to ask a question themselves.

💡 Tip Shortly before the end of your Q&A, ask your employees to open Slido and go through the submitted questions once again and upvote them.

You can say something like: “We have time for two more questions, please go ahead and upvote your favorite ones so we’ll get to answer the most relevant ones.”

7. Tackle the unanswered questions after the meeting

If you’ve run out of time and there are still many questions left unanswered, don’t let them disappear.

Answer them in writing, include them in your internal newsletter, or record a video and share it with your teammates afterwards.

Here are 8 tips on what to do with unanswered questions after your all-hands meeting.

A great Q&A session is usually a combination of thoughtful preparation, masterful moderation and skillful use of interaction technology. And, naturally, an intelligent and curious audience population. Use the tips above to make your next Q&A a success.

Improve your Q&A with Slido.

Get just a single email per month with our best articles.

5 Slido Activities to Build Psychological Safety In Your Team

At the center of a working environment with high levels of trust is the magic ingredient: psychological safety.  If you’re...

Why Leaders Should Run Employee Ask Me Anything Sessions

An Ask Me Anything (AMA) session is an opportunity for your team to ask questions and feel heard. It gives...

The Top 80+ Poll Question Ideas to Ask Your Online Audience

Whether you’re running a meeting, hosting a training, webinar, or speaking at an event, polls are your best friend. They...

Got any suggestions?

We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo

Top searches

Trending searches

5 templates

hispanic heritage month

21 templates

indigenous canada

46 templates

suicide prevention

9 templates

mid autumn festival

18 templates

16 templates

Q&A for Business Presentation

It seems that you like this template, q&a for business presentation presentation, free google slides theme, powerpoint template, and canva presentation template.

Presenting your company's Q&A doesn't have to be boring. This creative Q&A presentation template for Google Slides and PowerPoint is the perfect tool to make your Q&A sessions stand out with a modern, professional design. It features abstract wave designs in cream and blue, ideal for a proffesional look with a hint of creativity. The template includes a range of layouts with various ways to represent questions, answers and sections, ensuring you can make the most of your time to present the information in an interesting and visually appealing manner. Download it now and bring your Q&A to life!

Features of this template

• 100% editable and easy to modify
• 35 different slides to impress your audience
• Contains easy-to-edit graphics such as graphs, maps, tables, timelines and mockups
• Includes 500+ icons and Flaticon’s extension for customizing your slides
• Designed to be used in Google Slides, Canva, and Microsoft PowerPoint
• 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens
• Includes information about fonts, colors, and credits of the resources used

How can I use the template?

Am I free to use the templates?

How to attribute?

Attribution required If you are a free user, you must attribute Slidesgo by keeping the slide where the credits appear. How to attribute?

Register for free and start downloading now

Related posts on our blog.

How to Add, Duplicate, Move, Delete or Hide Slides in Google Slides

How to Change Layouts in PowerPoint

How to Change the Slide Size in Google Slides

Related presentations.

Premium template

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

Create your presentation Create personalized presentation content

Writing tone, number of slides.

Register for free and start editing online

Product Updates

• Polling l Q&A l Quiz Tips

Higher Education

• Employee Training
• Internal Comms

6 questioning tactics to use in your next presentation that maximise audience engagement

The famous scientific philosopher Thomas Kuhn said, “the answers you get depend on the questions you ask,” so if you’re not getting the answers, or audience engagement you want, maybe it’s time to take a look at the questions you’re asking.

The art of asking the right questions helps you to gain deep insights, support informed decision making and develop effective solutions to any challenges or plug information gaps. You might ask questions for data collection, tests or research, but it’s important to note that the questions you ask can have a huge impact on the results you get.

When it comes to asking your audience questions with a view to increasing engagement, there's several questioning tactics and question styles you can use, and we’ve detailed some below.

Build rapport and warm up with Icebreakers

Icebreakers should be easy questions that don't require too much thinking capacity. They might not be important from an informational point of view, but they have an important function for engagement. Our brain is highly social and thrives on interaction.

By starting a formalised meeting with light-hearted questioning, dopamine is released which lights up the sense of reward in the brain, encouraging this positive behaviour. Using a live polling tool to ask your icebreaker ramps up the interaction and excitement, increasing audience engagement even further.

Kick things off with:  

• Who will win the match at the weekend?
• What is your favourite movie?
• How did you get here today?

Why not download our ready to use PowerPoint icebreakers to poll your audience with?

Ask open questions

Questioning, with a view to increasing engagement, becomes even more effective when you use open questions - especially good if you’re using a word cloud polling tool . Open questions prompt your audience to consider their personal opinions and beliefs in their response, bringing them closer to the subject matter and naturally increasing interest and audience engagement.

Get your audience to open up by asking:

• What has been your most memorable part of the day/session?
• What will you do differently as a result of this session?
• Describe your feelings about the proposed changes in one word... 

Try the 5 W's

Basic though they may be, asking questions that begin with one of the five ‘W's will almost guarantee you an answer that isn't too taxing for the audience to come up with, perfect if you’re looking for data. Combine one of the 'W's with one of these other techniques and you'll amplify the effectiveness.

Why not try...

• Who, do you find inspirational?
• What, is your biggest challenge?
• When, do you feel most productive?
• Where, should we hold the next event?
• Why do you think (this resource/product/book/technique) is so popular?

You don't need to get too deep and meaningful with your audience but prompting them to reflect can be a powerful engagement tool for both you and them. Often, we all spend so much time looking forward, that we can forget to take a look back to find lessons or inspiration to help us acknowledge, grow, progress and continue to engage.

Ask your audience to ponder on these...  

• What has held you back?
• Who has helped you the most with this project?
• What would you tell your younger self?
• How would you approach this differently now you have experience?

Make a statement, provoke a reaction

Rhetorical questions are often used by coaches or public speakers for effect, to get the audience thinking. Why do they work? Typically, rhetorical questions can be blunt or provocative, they can stop the audience in their tracks and prompt them to pay attention or re-engage if asked midway through a presentation or speech.

Rhetorical questions can also resonate strongly, as each audience member ponders the question in the context of their own reality, increasing the poignancy of the question.

How about asking...  

• Why does this even matter?
• How do we overcome this?
• What does this say about who we are?
• Where do we go next?

Democratic decision making 

We're huge fans of democracy (current politics aside) and nothing engages an audience more than the knowledge that their contribution affects the outcome. Whether you're hunting answers from your audience for the sake of data, to gauge opinion, or to actually make a real-life decision, the use of live-polling will get the crowds engaging.

Multi-choice polling is really effective and increases engagement by giving your audience a sense of autonomy over the decision at hand by providing them with the answers to choose between.   Poll the audience with…

• How often should we hold these sessions? Weekly, monthly, annually?
• Where should we go for our next social outing? Pub/restaurant, mini golf, bowling?
• How is the room temperature? Too hot, Too cold, Just right?

So, now you’ve got 6 question types to try out and engage with your next audience. As a last piece of advice, an engaged audience is a natural bi-product if the information you’re sharing is interesting, relevant and the audience can learn something from you, or about themselves.

Related articles

From the blog.

Vevox recognized as a top 10 education software

6 proven ways to use an audience response system

What are the key benefits of audience response systems?

How to give more persuasive presentations: A Q&A with Nancy Duarte

Stepping onto the TED or TEDx stage — or speaking in front of any group of people, for that matter — is truly nerve-wracking. Will you remember everything you wanted to say, or get so discombobulated that you skip over major points? Will the audience be receptive to your ideas, or will you notice a guy in row three nodding off to sleep?

Presentation expert Nancy Duarte , who gave the TED Talk “ The secret structure of great talks ,” has built her career helping people express their ideas in presentations. The author of  Slide:ology  and  Resonate , Duarte has just released a new book through the Harvard Business Review:  The HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations .

What would you say are the three keys to giving a great presentation?

The number one thing, I think, is to be audience-centric. To take the time to think through who the audience is and develop all your material from a place of empathy toward them. You’re asking them to adopt your idea, which means they may have to abandon a belief they hold as true — and that’s hard. So, know your audience — take a walk in their shoes. What keeps them up at night? How are they wired to resist your message? Most presenters are consumed with preparing their content rapidly, which makes the material about their own narrow perspective. By flipping that paradigm to an audience-centric approach, your material will resonate and the audience can feel a deeper connection to you and your material.

Number two, you need to understand your role in the presentation. So many people feel like they’re the central figure — kind of like the hero of the story — because they’re the one talking the most. But in reality, your role is that of a mentor — you should be giving the audience a magical gift or a special tool, or helping them get unstuck in some way. You have to defer to your audience. When you put your idea out there for an audience to contend with — if they reject your idea, your idea will die. You have to think of it as, “The speaker needs the audience more than the audience needs the speaker.” Then you’ll start to approach a material with your audience in mind – you’ll have more of a stance of humility than one of arrogance. That will help you create the kind of movement needed to get your idea to spread.

And then the third thing — wrap your content in story. A story serves like the sugarcoating on the outside of a pill in some ways — it just makes it go down easier. If you look at preliterate generations for thousands and thousands of years, stories would pass down for generation after generation after generation — and stay almost completely intact. Yet, a lot of people can’t remember the last presentation they sat through. So, using principles of story — the tension and release that happens in a story — that’s what will help persuade the audience toward your idea.

What do you feel like you learned from giving your own TED Talk?

I learned so much. Being the “Presentation Lady,” I knew I couldn’t suck at it. The hardest part was getting [my talk] to fit within this finite amount of time. So I trimmed and trimmed, keeping in mind that you still have to nail why this is important to the audience. I had a person coach me and point out places where I could trim. “You took too long here, and that made this part of emphasis too long.” I worked with the timer counting up until I knew I was within the time window — then what I did was work with the timer counting down so I’d know, “When I’m a fourth of the way through, I should be on this slide. When I’m halfway through, I need to be on this slide.” I created markers in my mind so I would know how I was running on time. Sure enough, I finished the talk and I had six seconds left on the clock.

It was a great experience for me because I hadn’t gone through it myself. I’d coached people through it but — wow — to actually be a victim was interesting. I learned the power of rehearsing. If you rehearse really, really, really well — it looks improvisational. Some people rehearse to a point where they’re robotic, and they sound like they have memorized their presentation and didn’t take it to the next level. Going from sounding memorized and canned to sounding natural is a lot of work.

So, the classic advice for stage fright is to imagine the audience in their underwear. What do you recommend people do to calm their nerves?

I don’t usually get nervous, but when I got on [the TED] stage, I was nervous because it’s pretty high stakes. I recommend doing some breathing exercises — breathe in as deep as you can, and then take a couple more big gasps. Then, release it really slowly. That calms my heart down. But my favorite piece of advice isn’t my own — it’s from a guy named Nick Morgan. He said, “What you need to do right before you walk on stage is think of someone that you love dearly.” Doing that, I felt the chemistry in my whole body change. My shoulders relaxed and my heart melted. That feeling of affection makes your body calm itself down. That’s a really great way to stop stage fright.

What is the best way to start creating a presentation?

My best advice is to not start in PowerPoint. Presentation tools force you to think through information linearly, and you really need to start by thinking of the whole instead of the individual lines. I encourage people to use 3×5 note cards or sticky notes — write one idea per note. I tape mine up on the wall and then study them. Then I arrange them and rearrange them — just work and work until the structure feels sound. And from that sound structure, you start to fill it in using a presentation tool.

[For visuals], I think people tend to go with the easiest, fastest idea. Like, “I’m going to put a handshake in front of a globe to mean partnership!” Well, how many handshakes in front of a globe do we have to look at before we realize it’s a total cliche? Another common one — the arrow in the middle of a bullseye. Really? Everyone else is thinking that way. The slides themselves are supposed to be a mnemonic device for the audience so they can remember what you had to say. They’re not just a teleprompter for the speaker. A bullseye isn’t going to make anyone remember anything. Don’t go for the first idea. Think about the point you’re trying to make and brainstorm individual moments that you’re trying to emphasize. Think to the second, the third, the fourth idea — and by the time you get to about the tenth idea, those will be the more clever memorable things for the audience.

One thing that is really different about giving a TED Talk is the fact that you know it will be filmed. How do you think about the difference between live presentations and ones that will exist on video?

On stage, it feels really awkward to do large movements because — normally in life — we’re talking to someone in a more intimate setting and moving your arms really big feels melodramatic. But on the stage, you have to move your body in really big gestures. It feels awkward at first if you’re not used to it, so you have to kind of close your eyes and get used to it. Say things and move largely. Take big bold steps forward, big bold steps backward. You have this grand stage and people don’t use the space enough. I think one of the great things that Jill Bolte Taylor did was how she used her body. Her arms stretched all the way up when she talked about nirvana. Then she when she talks about her whole soul feeling constricted, she brings her hands down and folds her arms down in front of her. She’s using her body as a prop. That’s an important way to create meaning.

Also, with video, a tech rehearsal is important. Your audience on video is exponentially larger than the people in the room. So by familiarizing yourself with the cameras, you can at least look in that general direction. You know how you’re supposed to look around the audience — look and hold for five seconds, look and hold for five seconds? You should look at the camera as if it’s a human. Get used to seeing that circular lens as a face. Feel like it’s a person you’re talking to, because that audience on camera needs to feel like they’re there and that you’re looking right at them.

To me, presentations are the most powerful device. You can’t really name a movement that didn’t start with the spoken word. TED was once this exclusive, amazing event where ideas were exchanged, but you’ve moved to treating presentations as a media type. You guys have been so refined at it, that what it’s done is created a movement. What TED has done is made a platform for introverts, for scientists, for inventors — to share their ideas in a way that’s clear and appeals to a broad audience so that their ideas spread and get adopted. It’s completely changed how people present. It’s created this desire to be excellent in communication.

When you look at even how businesses communicated in the ’30’s, ’40’s and ’50’s — they were so much clearer and well-crafted. I recently went to the Stanford Library and I got a bunch of old GE Board meetings from, like, 1957. And I thought, “These are so beautiful!” Their presentations referenced history, they quoted things, they crafted their words in such a beautiful way. Then PowerPoint entered into the mix and suddenly there wasn’t any desire to craft anymore. I think TED Talks have brought the desire for the craft back.

Your new book is from the Harvard Business Review. Is it intended for someone who is in business, or for anyone?

All of my books are for anyone who has an idea that they need to communicate! I loved working with Harvard Business Review and I think because of the publisher, business professionals may be more interested in this book. But anyone with an idea can benefit from it. It’s a guidebook, so that people can think, “Oh, I need to know how to do this specific thing. I’m going to go get this book and find that one thing.”

Want more advice on giving talks? Our curator Chris Anderson is writing the official TED guide to public speaking —to be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in spring 2016. Titled Talk This Way! , it will be packed with insights on what makes talks work.

• Subscribe to TED Blog by email

Comments (58)

Pingback: How to give a great speech (Hint: be authentic) « Broadside

Pingback: Before You Speak, Learn To See | Echo Hub » Posts

Pingback: Links of the Week: Week of Nov 5-11 « Creating Communication

Pingback: TED Blog | How to give a persuasive presentations: A Q&A with Nancy Duarte « Simpsonville New Home News

Pingback: TED Blog | How to give a persuasive presentations: A Q&A with Nancy Duarte « arnoneumann

🎁 Disc. 25% off for sevice special on Before Holiday Program Today! 🎁

#startwithpower

Our designers just create something for you. Show your love with downloading their works for free.

• Presentation Skill

Question and Answer Session: The Most Important Elements of a Presentation

Ulfah Alifah

• Published on April 26, 2021

Table of Contents

Question and Answer Session After Presentation Is Important

Cory House, speaker and Microsoft MVP, posted polling on his Twitter account. The polling is about whether a question and answer session after the presentation is needed or not.

Most of his followers voted for taking questions from crowds (64%). But in his article in Medium, Cory stated that he belongs to the minority. He prefers to chat after the presentation than provide a q and a section. Q and A are so common that speakers do it by reflex. When they’re done talking, they say, “Any questions?”. All too often, this is a mistake, as Cory said in his article in Medium.

According to Gary Genard, “There’s a group of people who actually can’t wait for a Q and A session because at last, they can have a true discussion with his audience.” No wonder Q and A is, as he calls it, a “forgotten avenue of audience persuasion!” Do all of the above with style and skill, and you’ll go a long way toward strongly bolstering your authority and credibility with your listeners.

So, from those statements, people are still curious and ask whether a question and answer session after a presentation is valuable or not. So, let’s analyze the pros and cons first.

Pros of Question and answer session

You can also invite questions during speech sessions. Questions during the talk break up the monotony of one person talking. They’re much more likely to be focused and applicable. They take less time because the context is already set. And, since the person asking the Question understands they’re cutting into your speaking time, they typically keep their question brief.

It’s your chance to clarify your argument – Challenging yourself to summarize essential information into a too-brief presentation period most of the time. Because Q and A appear audience-controlled rather than a speaker-controlled plus, it allows you to expand your argument while responding directly to your listeners “off the clock.” The atmosphere created should feel more relaxed while giving you greater scope to deepen your audience’s understanding.

Q and A is more conversational and natural than a one-way speech- All effective public speaking is  informal. Audiences want speakers to communicate with them honestly, openly, and in everyday language. The back-and-forth of Q and A should feel more comfortable for you and your listeners.

Your presentation may have confused some audiences by making them understand Q and A. Therefore, Q and A are your golden opportunity to continue, inform, and convince at last as you terminate your presentation. Remember that presenters who handle themselves with style and confidence in the rough-and-tumble of Q and A may win over some listeners for the first time! To understand your audience better even before you start speaking.

Whichever you pick, there is one thing you must do: A good speech is a performance. Like any performance, it should end decisively . Preferably with a thoughtful, rehearsed, and memorable finish. For better or worse, people remember the ending most clearly.

Cons of Question and answer session

Sitting in Silence is No Fun- Sometimes, the speaker forgets to repeat the question asked. Unless it’s a small room, much of the crowd can’t hear the question. So much of the room is temporarily unlinked, waiting for an end to the question they can’t hear. During this time, many attendees are looking at their schedules and wishing they could politely leave.

But, if you’re presenting in a hall, on stage with such a crowd, you better understand that not everyone is interested in asking a question. Cory House suggested in his article to chat after instead. Before closing, you can say, “I’m happy to take questions. Please come up and chat”. Often many people come forward, and we chat as a group. Provide your contact info at the end so attendees can email or tweet later. You can also often offer a 5–10-minute retrospective out in the hall immediately after the session. This way, you set people free to leave as soon as the structured talk is complete.

The entire crowd is held captive until they’re dismissed – Until the speaker says “thank you” to release the public, everyone is stuck listening to other people’s questions about whether they like it. If an attendee has no questions, they should feel free to go. Forcing the entire crowd to sit through other people’s questions is a waste of their time.

Four types of Questions and answer your presentation needs

When hearing the phrase “presentation Q&A,” the first visual that appears to mind likely includes a presenter calling on members of the masses. They raise their hands in expectation of receiving an answer to an inquiry. The role of questions and the act of questioning during a presentation is much more expansive. So, here are the four questions you should add to your next presentation:

1. Rhetorical Questions

You’re probably thinking, “but doesn’t a rhetorical question imply that you won’t receive a response?” And you are correct. But you are also missing the bigger picture. A rhetorical question puts your audience in the right frame of mind to consume your message. After you read or hear a rhetorical question, your curiosity is piqued. Your brain becomes anxious to discover the answer and get some closure. And if a presenter is really in tune with their audience, they can readily close the gap and furnish the information wanted by all in attendance.

Presentation Tips:

If you want to maximize the result of your content, ask multiple rhetorical questions in a row – each one more specific or more monumental than the one before. Alternate your pacing if you’d like to create an urgent and persuasive tone.

2. Interactive Questions

An  article by the Harvard Business Review detailed four different types of advice-giving and receiving: discrete advice, counsel, coaching, and mentoring. A presenter will probably deal with the first 2 – discrete advice and counsel in a presentation situation. Perhaps the best use of an exciting question for polling would be for a subject where you weigh options or try to figure out how to deal with a circumstance—hoping to get feedback on the idea behind a new product offering? Form a question and find out from the consumers themselves.

To spur audience engagement, inject a poll or two into your presentation through LiveSlides , where you can embed polls into your PowerPoint or Keynote deck. Use a poll question to express an interest in audience members’ opinions and cultivate credibility by relaying the results to support one of your main points.

3. Temporal Questions

Sometimes, if delivered precisely, a question can facilitate the visualization of your message for your audience while also grounding it at a specific time. In Ron Paul’s final speech to the United States Congress, he asked a series of “What if?” questions to illustrate the current problems with the country’s foreign policies, as well as provide a vision of a world where his fears aren’t addressed – a robust storytelling structure for a presentation narrative.

Consider opening your next presentation with a question that creates a path for the rest of your content. For example, suppose you are a small-town barber who landed a job cutting celebrities’ hair like Adam Levine’s. In that case, you might start your presentation with this question: “What if I told you that I never wanted to follow my dad’s, grandpa’s, and even great-grandpa’s footsteps and become a barber? What if I never went through the traumatic experience that shaped who I am and how I work today?” The temporal Question effectively builds suspense and defines the setting – the time and place – for the story.

4. Guiding Questions

Using questions to direct the story and broader plot and the thought process of listeners can increase message retention by strengthening connections and invoking curiosity. According to a study by researchers at Washington University, students who asked conceptual questions performed better on tests. On top of enhancing their critical thinking skills, they also retained the information collected through detailed questions.

Carve a break into your presentation and include a slide or two with some questions to garner audience input. Ensure that the Question is relevant to a topic recently discussed and select wording that aligns with the tone of the presentation while also being best able to stimulate the responses you implore. You can do this by using positive or negative terms within the question construction or using the passive tense to use the active. When attempting these strategies, switch up the question format and structure to determine which option best fits your narrative.

Why do people worry about the Question and answer itself?

Even seasoned public speakers can be terrified by the thought of the Question and answer session after presentation. You may believe that your audience should be a part of your presentation but still be worried when inviting questions from the audience. One reason for this is the lack of control. After all, as the presenter, you’ve got no idea what audience members will ask.

Another concern about taking questions in presentations is that you won’t know the answers. If you’re new to public speaking, taking questions can be even more nerve-wracking. Some presenters feel they’re not good at improvising with surprising questions. Overall, speakers worry about looking stupid in front of the audience. There are tips for controlling all those issues in this guide.

Why you should include a question and answer section after presentation

So, why is it essential to include a question and answer session after presentation? There are several benefits to inviting questions from the audience at the end of your presentation. For a start, your audience should be a part of your presentation if you want to make your session more exciting and engaging. Taking feedback questions for a presentation is one way to do this. Yet there are at least four additional reasons why you should love Q & A, or at the very least look forward to it:

Reason 1: Your presentation may have confused some audience members or left them unconvinced

Let’s understand your audience better even before you start speaking. Remember that rhetoricians who handle themselves with style and self-confidence in the rough-and-tumble of Q and A may win over some audiences at first sight! In such cases, Q and A is your golden chance to either continue, inform or convince at last as you conclude your presentation.

Reason 2: It’s your chance to clarify your argument, give examples of your solution in action, or overcome opposition

Most of the time, you feel challenged to cram essential information into a too-brief presentation period. Because Q and A appear audience-controlled rather than speaker-controlled, it allows you to expand your argument while responding directly to your listeners “off the clock.” The atmosphere created should feel more relaxed while giving you greater scope to deepen your audience’s understanding.

Reason 3: Q & A is more conversational and natural than a one-way speech

All effective public speaking is  interactional. Audiences want speakers to communicate with them honestly, openly, and in everyday language. Too often, speeches have the feeling of a monologue, delivered through a one-way dynamic to a polite but anesthetized crowd of onlookers.

Reason 4: Q & A demands your absolute best

Let’s face it: A question-and-answer period is a tremendous challenge. You can practice your presentations regularly since you can never know what queries and objections may come your way when inviting your listeners to respond.

A Q and A session is a great chance to connect more with your audience and complete the process that you’ve started with the presentation. Most presentations are concise and don’t cover everything to avoid boring the audience. So, responding to questions gives you another chance to showcase your expertise by expanding on points made in the main presentations.

Another great thing is that a lively question and answer session in a presentation tells you that people are interested in what you’ve got to say to them and your topic.

Public Speaking Trainer  Gary Genard  says:

The Q and A is excellent feedback for a presenter and gives you the confidence you need for future presentations on your topic. And a good Q and A shows your expertise.

How to prepare for questions after a presentation

Presentation questions don’t have to take you by surprise. As a presenter, there are several tasks you can do in advance, so you’re ready for anything your audience throws at you. Here are some tips to help you handle presentation questions:

1. Hold a briefing session before the event

Ensure that everyone is informed and ready for your event by having a briefing session beforehand. In this briefing, you should invite the speakers or presenters, moderators, and people working behind the scenes, such as stage managers. You can make sure that everyone is prepared for the event and iron out any issues, thus providing the best experience for your audience. Here you should run through the event program and establish any time limits or rules before the event.

2. Enough time

It is easy to think of the Q and A as an afterthought, although it is anything but! 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 in a more digestible format during Q and A. Moreover, consider not bunching all your Q&A time to the end, but plan for some interactive Q and A sessions throughout your speaking time (see tips 6 & 7 below!) Budget 25% of your total time for the Q and A sessions at an absolute minimum.

3. Stick to the time limit

As well as making sure that you have enough time for questions, make sure that you stick to that time limit. If you find many questions left, consider continuing the conversation online and let your audience know that they can do this by following a specific hashtag. This way, you can stay respectful of people’s time while allowing everyone to have their questions answered.

4. Great moderator

If you need someone to moderate your Q and A session, choose your moderator carefully. The role of the moderator is to be the connection between the audience and whoever is answering the questions. They ensure that the questions are appropriate and that the event moves forward and doesn’t get stuck on a particular question.

The moderator should be someone who likes being on stage, can improvise under pressure, and isn’t scared of leading the conversation but not controlling it. If you are the moderator, make sure that you are prepared and briefed all involved in the event. Remember, a great moderator facilitates the conversation and doesn’t join in or take over.

5. Know your topic

If you’re an expert on the subject you’re presenting on, and there’s little that can faze you. One of the best preparations is to know your topic inside out. Q and A sessions transform the presentation from a pointless exercise in lecturing to a natural and fruitful learning experience.

a. When presentations are interactive , audience members are significantly more likely to pay attention, stay engaged, and stay tuned in.

b. question and answer session after presentation shows how others perceive your work

c. Question and answer session after presentation allows you to get more information about your product or topic.

Building question and answer session after presentation 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.

6. Know your audience

When preparing to invite questions from the audience, research is vital. If you know who you’re presenting to, tailor the information to their interests. This research will also help you figure out what might be coming up in the Q and A.

7. Hold back some information

Your presentation question session will be more accessible if you’ve got some new information left to share. If your presentation is concise, you’ll have valuable data to make the final cut. Some of this can help you answer your audience’s questions.

8. Prepare for the most likely questions

Content Strategist and Founder of Write Minds,  Jacob McMillen , says:

Responding to questions with a little preparation. Go through your presentation and see where audience members might want clarification or extra insight. Do more research so you’ve got supporting statistics on hand. Check to see if there’s a related topic that might follow naturally from something you present.

9. Lead your audience

Related to that, you can subtly invite questions from the audience by giving them a teaser. This encourages them to ask questions about the information you’ve already prepared. For example, if you use a surprising or interesting fact, it’s almost sure someone will ask for more information.

10. Decide when to respond to questions

There’s no set time frame for responding to questions. As the presenter, it’s entirely up to you to run a question and answer session for your presentation. There are two options:

a. Let people ask questions throughout your presentation.

b. Take all questions at the end.

c. Each method has pros and cons.

If you go with interactive questions for your presentation and take them throughout, it’s easy to tell when your audience is engaged. That’s affirming, and you also won’t have to remember to come back to a topic later. But taking questions throughout can also interrupt both the flow of the presentation and your train of thought. That can make it harder to follow for your audience.

If you take presentation questions at the end, you can focus on delivering the best presentation without worrying about interruptions. That makes it less interactive during the presentation itself. But it means both you and your audience can easily follow the issue you’re presenting.

Amma Marfo , Professional Writer, Speaker, and Trainer, says:

A good middle ground, especially for a more extended presentation, is to take questions at specific times. For example, if you’re making several main points, you could have a brief question and answer session after presenting them.

You can signal your audience that it’s time for questions by adding a Q and A slide to your presentation. Include:

a. The Presentation Title

b. Your Name

c. The Word “Questions”

Many premium presentation themes include the image of a well-designed question for your presentation.

11. Use the right tools and equipment

Although the above tips will already get you a practical question and answer session after presentation session, tech can help you knock it out of the park.

Use software that interacts with your audience. Collecting and fielding questions a cinch. Instead of a mic, invest in tools that allow everyone to submit a question via 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. Because these systems allow your audience to answer a question in real-time, you can poll and show them the results, sparking real conversation and idea-building. The cost (to you or your company) is minimal; the engagement benefits are enormous.

12. Don’t start a debate – facilitate that afterward

You might find that some audience members want to engage in a discussion during these types of events, especially around controversial topics. The presenter and the moderator should avoid indulging in such meetings during the actual session as they take up time and are often only interested in debating.

13. Keep some slides in reserve specifically for Q&A

Have you ever written a presentation and found that some slides do too much detail and detract from the presentation flow? Could you not throw them out? Keep them on hand for the Q and A sessions. When a question comes up more in-depth, pull out your prepared slide and look like an absolute ace for having the information ready!

14. Neutralize trouble with openness

When 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, worse, a hostile one? Even these challenging situations can be turned to your advantage.

a. Thank the person asking the question regardless. This is especially effective for neutralizing hostile questions posed because the asker is showing off. By thanking them for the new perspective, they’re providing and promising to look into their perspective in the future. This shows your openness without giving up your authority.

b. If possible, pivot irrelevant questions toward something else that you want to address in your question and answer session after presentation but have not had a chance to. One technique for doing that is to rephrase the question: “If I understand right, the question is…” and then pivot toward the Question you want to answer. Also, it works for situations when you can’t quite hear the question, the asker has a strong accent, or you’re just unsure what they’re asking!

c. Prep an answer for odd and inappropriate questions that allow you and the asker to save face. For example, you might say, ‘That’s a great question, and although I don’t feel it’s appropriate to answer at this time, I’d be happy to address it one-on-one after the session.’

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.

15. Leverage anonymity

Another positive aspect of using software with your Q and A session is enabling 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.

16. Democratizing discussion

Using  live Q and A software for your software means that you are no longer locked into using Q and 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:

a. Ask your audience to submit their questions ahead of time. Although you’ll get some unrelated questions, this is a great way to go outside your head and figure out what your audience wants to know.

b. Allow your audience to vote on the submitted questions. By letting people upvote their favorites, you will end up with a list of priority questions ahead of time.

c. Rewrite two or three of the submitted questions as a multiple-choice poll; administer the votes in the beginning and middle of your talk.

d. After each mini-poll, ask audience members to discuss results in minor (5-7 persons) groups before bringing the room back together.

Just make sure to keep it short and direct! e. Put your closing remarks after the Q and A. Whether you have one Q and A session at the end or intersperse questions, polling, and discussion, delivering your closing remarks after the Q and A reasserts your control of the information and allows you to underline the conclusions of the discussion.

As you can see, the Q and A session is not something to fear but a vital tool for making sure your presentation gets its point across. The more well-developed, active, and engaged your Q and A session, the more successful your overall presentation

Tips on responding to questions

Ready to invite questions at the end of your presentation? Here are some tips on handling your Q&A session:

1. Listen to the presentation questions

Handling questions in presentations starts with listening. Listen to make sure you understand what the audience member is asking. Don’t be afraid to ask the person to repeat the question if you think you’ve missed something. This is also an excellent way to get more thinking time.

2. Acknowledge the questioner

Acknowledge the questioner, even if it’s simply by saying: “that’s  a good question. ” This makes your audience member feel good and buys you a little time to think about your response.

3. Empathize with the audience

Audience members want to know you empathize with their concerns. If you know your topic, you’ll understand why they’re asking a particular question and can use that as a lead-in to your response. Consider what you would ask at the end of your talk if you were in their shoes. Think about three common themes that come up in the Q and A:

What’s the downside for them?

What would your audience see as the biggest obstacles to doing or acting on what you’ve talked about? Be ready to show you recognize their concerns, even if you don’t have a simple answer to the problem.

What else do they care about right now?

Perhaps they’re trying to implement a new strategic plan or busy building relationships with external stakeholders. Think ahead about how your material might link to those broader issues.

What happens next?

People have a built-in desire for clarity about certainties in a changing situation. You might not have a crystal ball, but you can probably say something about the next step that flows from your presentation.

Considering your audience’s perspective helps you stay calm by reminding you that you’re dealing with human beings, not enemy combatants.

4. Appreciate the conversation

Recall that questions are good. Your head is less likely to be on the defensive — which means you’ll be more likely to bring your best self to show. Besides, reframe the question and answer session after the presentation as a rewarding conversation that signals healthy action. Two specific things to try:

• At the moment after speaking, as the first person puts their hand up or opens their mouth to speak, tell yourself silently: “Aha, good — they’re interested!” • Start your answer by appreciating the Question. Try something like “I appreciate you raising that,” or “Thank you, that’s an important topic.”

The second of those approaches gives you an extra moment to think about your reply and make your audience feel valued.

5. Answering different types of questions

Questions from the audience tend to fall into three categories: good questions, challenging questions, and unnecessary questions. Commenting on the Question before you begin the answer will give you some time to think.

6. Staying in control

Start by listening carefully to the Question to show that you understand and pay attention. Be calm if the questioner asks you to explain something you have already defined in depth during your presentation. Don’t roll your eyes or sigh in anger when you hear a question. These are insulting flags. Instead, after the questioner has finished speaking, say you’ll be glad to clarify the point. Otherwise, you need to tell me that you have already done so politely.

Remember to stay on route and answer the precise question. If one person tries to ask some questions, explain that you could speak personally afterward, but you’d like to give more people a chance to ask inquiries for now.

Maintaining visual control

a. Adopt a comfortable position where you can look at all sections of the audience.

b. Use eye contact techniques.

c. Use walking patterns to focus and refocus the attention of the audience.

Maintaining verbal control

a. View the question and answer period as an opportunity to reinforce your significant points.

b. Restructure difficult questions so you can answer them to your advantage.

c. Listen to the intent of the message instead of the tone.

d. Keep your answers brief so as not to appear to be defending yourself.

Remember that a speaker is decided from when they enter the room until the last Question is replied to, so be polite, helpful, and professional in answering questions.

7. Start with an agreement

Sometimes a person asks a question because they disagree with you. This can be an incredibly fragile moment to manage because disagreement all too easily puts people’s brains into protective fight-or-flight mode . To help both think openly and constructively, start your response by focusing on where you consent. Follow these steps ( adapted from game theorist Anatol Rapaport ) to defuse tension:

a. Briefly playback your perception of their view. “If I understand you right, you feel….”

b. Outline wherever you agree. “We’re aligned on much of this. We both think that… and….”

c. Home in on where your primary disagreement lies. “The one place we differ is….”

d. Tell what’s developed your point of view. “The reason for my viewpoint is that….”

We saw this done well by a senior manager in a tech company challenged by a colleague on her ambitious timeline for a new product launch.

8. Parry with curiosity

You can’t prepare an answer for this sort of unpredictable Question. But you can be ready with a helpful state of mind: curiosity. Learning is inherently rewarding to our brains , which is why asking a question of your own can be just enough to get you off the defensive. For example, you might say:

a. “Can you tell me more about what’s driving your question?”

b. “That’s intriguing — is this something you’ve experienced yourself?”

c. “Is there a specific reason for your concern on this?”

And if you’re still left scratching your head after that gambit, go back to the first strategy above and appreciate the horizon-broadening input.

9. Promise to follow up

Now and then, you get a question you really can’t answer on the spot. There’s no need for terror. Simply let the questioner know that you’ll follow up afterward and do it as soon as possible after the presentation. That may even be a good time for some self-deprecating humor.

10. Get some help

You don’t have to answer all questions in presentations yourself. If there’s an expert in the audience who’s likely to have relevant information, call on that person. If you know the list of attendees, give that expert some warning. Either way, it’ll make your Q and A even more helpful for your audience.

11. Stay in control

If an audience member starts to ramble, don’t be afraid to rein them in. Gently interrupt and clarify to keep the session relevant, engaging, and on-topic for the rest of your audience. Jacob McMillen says:

12. Have someone monitor the chat

If you’re presenting online, taking questions can be slightly more complex. Often, people use a chat function to post questions during the presentation. It’s essential to have someone monitor the chat so you don’t miss anything.

Finally, summarize your presentation at the end of the Question and answer session after presentation. This lets you leave your audience with the core message you want to get across.

13. Encourage a shy audience

What if no one has a question? Sometimes you just need to give it a few more seconds; eventually, the nervous energy in the room should be enough to get someone to raise his hand.

If not, you need to determine if there’s really no interest or if people just need a nudge to get started. Here are a few ways you can encourage participation and get the Question and answer after presentation off and running:

• Have a plant in the audience. If you suspect you’ll have a shy audience on your hands, you can ask a colleague in the audience to start the Question and answer after presentation with a question prepared in advance.

• Bring up a common question that you believe will interest listeners based on your experience or your research about your audience.

• Take a poll. Ask the audience members to express their opinions or share experiences about an issue you addressed in your presentation.

How to respond when people disagree

Interactive question and answer session after presentation are all well and good, but what happens if an audience member strongly – and vocally – disagrees with what you’re saying. An excellent way to handle disagreement is to:

• Of course, you need to acknowledge the Question.

• The questioner’s perspective understanding.

• Identify where you agree (hopefully, you’ll agree on some points).

• Must know why your perspective is different – and why – on issues where there’s disagreement.

Amma Marfo has this to say about handling disagreements:

Here’s how to make the most of Q and A

There are four rules on how to craft great Question and answer session after presentation that mesmerize your audiences, and the first things are that you need to:

1. Set the rules at the opening

a. Tell the audience when and how you will handle questions at the beginning of your presentation.

b. Unless you’re giving a formal speech to a large audience, it’s best to take questions throughout your talk, not just at the end.

c. You could save Q and A for specific times during your presentation, like at the end of each major section.

d. Whatever you decide, let the audience know.

2. Field questions fairly

a. Listen to the Question before rushing to answer it.

b. Find out what the person wants to know without getting hung up on how they ask the Question and without embarrassing them.

c. Correct factual errors or misunderstandings immediately.

d. Defuse loaded questions with humor, if possible.

e. If necessary, repeat the Question in a summary fashion so everyone can hear it.

f. Give all audience members a chance to ask questions.

3. Answer questions tactfully

a. Use your answer to reinforce or clarify your main idea. Don’t give a new speech.

b. Answer the Question as directly as possible without being abrupt.

c. Begin by speaking directly to the person who asked the question. Then turn to someone in another part of the room, so you don’t get caught in a one-on-one dialogue.

d. Be respectful at all times, even when–or especially when–you disagree.

e. Keep your sense of humor.

f. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Offer to get back to the person with the answer. Or, if appropriate, ask the audience for their insights.

g. When a question requires a lengthy answer, give a summary, admit there’s more to be said, and offer to discuss it later with the person.

h. Retain control of the presentation, decide when to end the discussion, and move on.

4. End the Q&A with a summary

a. Don’t end your presentation simply by answering the last questions and saying, “Thank you.”

b. Answer the last question. Then wrap up your presentation with a one or two-sentence summary.

See also: 12 Presentation Design Principles Every Non-Designer Needs to Know Introvert vs Extrovert Presenter, Which One Are You? Top Tips To Help Plan Your Marketing Presentation 7 Color Schemes Inspiration for PowerPoint Great Design Team Management Tips to Avoid Your Work Exhaustion

Prep for your presentation Q&A session today

After presentation, accepting question and answer sessions is effective in a small group, like in a class or a meeting room. This way, everyone can pay attention to the Question, give feedback if needed, and the speaker can answer directly without repeating the Question. The one who is still confused can engage with the Question and make them more interested in the topic.

There is no dilemma that a question and answer session after presentation is needed to build communication with the audience. It is necessary and requires different treatment depending on the situation and how many crowds attend your presentation.

Let’s visit RRSlide to download free PowerPoint presentation templates with many categories. But wait, don’t go anywhere and stay here with our Blog to keep up-to-date on all the best pitch deck template collections and design advice from our PowerPoint experts yet to come!

More Articles

20 Best Fonts for Professional or Business PowerPoint Slides: Adios! You Won’t See Arial and Times New Roman Anymore

Have you read our old post about ‘Font Pairing Tips and Tricks for Dummies’? If …

RRGraph Design Signs CSR Partnership, Starting from Poverty Reduction to Land Ecosystems Preservation

RRGraph Design Signs CSR Partnership, Starting from Poverty Reduction to Land Ecosystems Preservation This is …

5 Ways of Using Your Digital Presence to Grow Your Business in 2023

Increasing visibility is among the main aims of businesses in today’s chaotic markets. In this …

Reliable place to create PowerPoint slides.

• Testimonial

Marketplace

• All products
• Subcription

Office Address

Simpang L.A. Sucipto Gg. 22A No.85, Malang 65126

+6281 334 783 938 [email protected]

Business Hours

Monday – Saturday 07:00 – 18.00 WIB GMT+9

People Also View

• 30+ Best PowerPoint Template for 2021
• 50+ Best Pitch Deck Template by Top Startups
• How Much Does It Cost for PowerPoint Presentation Services?
• How to be PowerPoint Experts?

© 2021 by RRGraph Design. All rights reserved.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Product Delivery Policy

Join our community

You will receive monthly tips, stories, and exclusive freebies!

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Special Announcements

2023 mri townhall q&a report now available, the september 2023 mri townhall webinar video recording and powerpoint presentation are now available, faq for mri track 3 - helium conservation equipment, two mri virtual townhall webinars will be held on september 14th and 15th, minor correction to mri solicitation, revised nsf biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support formats, mri town hall video now available.