Answering Questions

Don't be afraid to say I don't know

This can help defuse a hostile questioner. If you don't know the answer to the question, tell the questioner that "I'll find out the answer and get back to you right away."

Repeat of paraphrase the question

This is especially important if the questions was long or complicated and your audience is large. Paraphrasing guarantees that everyone in the audience hears the question and gives the speaker time to plan the answer.

Prepare for Questions

Try to anticipate potential questions that might be asked, think about how you will answer these questions, and do the necessary research to answer them effectively.

Bring the question and answer session to a close

Call for a final question, and, as you complete the answer, summarize your message again to refocus the listener/audience on your main points.

Maintain eye contact with the audience as you answer

Look first at the questioner, and then make eye contact with the audience members, returning your visual attention to the questioner as you finish the answer.

Handle questions politely

If someone makes a long statement w/o posing a question, wait till he or she pauses for a breath and then intervene by saying something like, "thank you for the comment" or "I appreciate you remarks. Your question then is..." or "That's an interesting perspective. Can we have another question?"

Defuse hostile questions

Reword hostile questions in more objective language.