Handling Q&A

Read “Icing the Hot Seat” By Jerry Weissman, Power Presentations, Ltd. for some really good tips on how to handle Q&A:

  1. DON’T make a list of potential tough questions and prepare an answer for each.
  2. DON’T refer back to a slide if someone asks a question about a subject you’ve already covered.
  3. DON’T compliment your questioner by saying, “That was a good question,” or “I’m glad you asked that.”
  4. DON’T think you don’t have to answer irrelevant questions.
  5. DON’T use every question as an opportunity to deliver your message.
  6. DON’T shift to a different subject if you don’t know the answer to a question.
  7. DON’T feel you must answer all the questions if you are asked a multiple question.
  8. DON’T repeat the question so that everyone can hear it.
  9. DON’T say, “I’m not at liberty to answer,” or “If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” if a question addresses a confidential matter.
  10. DON’T answer the question you want to answer.