The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters - Lifecycle Performance ...

134 / THE SEVEN STRATEGIES OF MASTER PRESENTERS
EXERCISE
4-11
Set up a page in your notebook with the following and
please list five of the most difficult questions you can think
of for your next presentation.
Question 1:
Question 2:
Question 3:
Question 4:
Question 5:
Next, please list three people who could both ask difficult questions and
give you direct and constructive feedback on how well you answered them.
Person 1:
Person 2:
Person 3:
Dealing With “Off-the-Wall” Questions
Opening the floor to questions can be a risky adventure. Occasionally,
you will be confronted with questions that are unintelligible
or inappropriate. If the question is unintelligible, first ask for clarification.
See if you can answer by rephrasing the question. On followup,
if the question still is not clear and you have a sense that the
person asking the question needs more time to think about what he or
she is asking, suggest that it is an interesting question, and say you
would like to think about it or that you could answer it better at the
break. On some occasions, you can also ask if anyone in the audience
would like to answer. Be careful, though, that you keep the discussion
under tight rein. Some in the audience can be more interested in impressing
others than in moving the discussion forward.
When asked an inappropriate question, such as one that is intentionally
confrontational or hostile, do not attempt to answer it. Instead
say something like: “That is a question that will take some time
to answer, please meet me at the break or after the presentation,” or
“I am not the person to answer that.” Then to further emphasize your
unwillingness to pursue an inappropriate line of questioning, quickly
reposition yourself on the podium to face a different part of the audience.
By doing so, you send a visual message: “That conversation has
ended.”