Page 21 - VoicesJan2015 .pub
P. 21
w to Handle Questions—Continued from page 20) more of the back story and give you a
good answer that works for you—can we
asked. Nothing wastes time and irritates talk one on one afterward?"
an audience more than a speaker who 6. Never close on questions—Never end
answers a question nobody asked, and your speech with questions – end with
fails to answer the question that was your call to action. That means wrapping
asked. up the Q and A portion, return to
presentation mode, and deliver your
And, it makes the questioner feel heard. powerful conclusion and call to action.
This ends your speech on an up note,
Second, if you are using amplification or memorably.
are you recording yourself, it ensures that As Patricia Fripp likes to say, "Last words
either the sound system or the recording linger." Make sure that you don't waste
system actually catches the question. In a those final words on questions and
large space, the audience did not hear the answers, followed by a lame "thank you".
question, only you did. Answering a Instead, close with a rousing call to action
question that most of the audience never that summarizes your entire talk and
heard will also irritate them. galvanizes people to be moved and
changed by your immortal words.
Third, repeating the question gives you Tom Cox has graciously agreed to share a
more time to think. video on this subject he produced for the
Oregon Bar Association. (Editor)
4. Answer concisely—Long rambling
answers -- especially ones that are only of Yourtube video
interest to a tiny portion of the audience --
will quickly bore and then irrirate the rest Tom joined Toastmasters in 2002. He is the VP
of the audience, and robs them of time for Education for Toastmasters for Speaking
other questions. Professionals and the VP Public Relations for
Competitive Speakers Pdx.
5. Invite 1-on-1—If you answer a question
and the person asking seems unsatisfied,
or wants to ask multiple follow-up
questions, offer to talk to them one-on-
one after the meeting. This saves time for
the rest of the audience to ask other
questions, it ensures that the person with
high needs can get those needs met, and
it makes you look warm and approachable
even to those people who don't have any
questions.
You can say something like "I want to hear
21
good answer that works for you—can we
asked. Nothing wastes time and irritates talk one on one afterward?"
an audience more than a speaker who 6. Never close on questions—Never end
answers a question nobody asked, and your speech with questions – end with
fails to answer the question that was your call to action. That means wrapping
asked. up the Q and A portion, return to
presentation mode, and deliver your
And, it makes the questioner feel heard. powerful conclusion and call to action.
This ends your speech on an up note,
Second, if you are using amplification or memorably.
are you recording yourself, it ensures that As Patricia Fripp likes to say, "Last words
either the sound system or the recording linger." Make sure that you don't waste
system actually catches the question. In a those final words on questions and
large space, the audience did not hear the answers, followed by a lame "thank you".
question, only you did. Answering a Instead, close with a rousing call to action
question that most of the audience never that summarizes your entire talk and
heard will also irritate them. galvanizes people to be moved and
changed by your immortal words.
Third, repeating the question gives you Tom Cox has graciously agreed to share a
more time to think. video on this subject he produced for the
Oregon Bar Association. (Editor)
4. Answer concisely—Long rambling
answers -- especially ones that are only of Yourtube video
interest to a tiny portion of the audience --
will quickly bore and then irrirate the rest Tom joined Toastmasters in 2002. He is the VP
of the audience, and robs them of time for Education for Toastmasters for Speaking
other questions. Professionals and the VP Public Relations for
Competitive Speakers Pdx.
5. Invite 1-on-1—If you answer a question
and the person asking seems unsatisfied,
or wants to ask multiple follow-up
questions, offer to talk to them one-on-
one after the meeting. This saves time for
the rest of the audience to ask other
questions, it ensures that the person with
high needs can get those needs met, and
it makes you look warm and approachable
even to those people who don't have any
questions.
You can say something like "I want to hear
21
