Public speaking: handling difficult questions

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1

Think about these questions before watching. Share your ideas with a partner.

  1. Describe a time you were asked a question during a presentation or meeting that you weren't prepared for. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
  2. Besides not knowing the answer, what else can make a question difficult to handle? Think about the timing, the tone, or the person asking.
  3. In your opinion, what's the best strategy for managing the Q&A portion of a presentation? Should you take questions throughout, or save them all for the end? Explain your reasoning.
2

Watch the video carefully. Pay attention to the main ideas and key details.

Video script135 segments · click a timestamp to jump

hey everyone it's Chen and welcome back

to my channel this is another video in

my public speaking series if it's your

first time watching the series there's a

bunch more videos head on over to my

youtube channel and you can see those

lately I've posted a lot of different

virtual presentation tips in today's

video I'm sharing with you 4 different

ways that I like to handle questions

while I'm presenting or training a room

or group of people now this could be an

in-person or a virtual presentation so

let's get into the video so you're up

there you're standing in front of a room

you are on a conference call you have a

group of people you are prepared you

rehearsed you are ready to go with your

presentation and someone raises their

hand and you're like mmm do you plan for

a question to happen at this time it's

ok so there are multiple ways you can

handle unplanned questions most of the

time I encourage questions throughout my

presentation but sometimes I get a

question and I didn't expect to get that

one when I rehearsed when I showed

different colleagues the presentation I

didn't anticipate that question so

there's a few different ways that I like

to handle this number one is say thank

you for the question I really appreciate

it I'm not confident that I can give you

the best answer right now so if you

could do me a favor and send me an email

I'd love to answer that question for you

after my presentation now that

accomplishes two things one you

acknowledge the question and number two

you put the onus on them to email you

what I've found in training classes is

that people tend some people just like

to ask questions they want to stump the

presenter okay it's typical so when you

acknowledge them let them know that hey

thank you so much for the question but

then you put it on since you're putting

it back on them what I find is most of

the time they don't email you so the

question really wasn't that important

they just wanted to hear their own voice

and that's okay you let them they feel

good they feel like they're part of the

presentation this is overall a really

good thing so if they don't email you

you ask them to email you so you're good

and if they do email you you can answer

the question you can figure it out then

a second type of question that you might

get is a question about something you're

gonna talk about in the future in your

presentation so you don't want to give

them the answer now because it's gonna

ruin kind of

how you were building up to that part of

the presentation so it depends on your

audience there's a couple different ways

I handle this de penas seriously

depending on the group I might choke

around and say oh my goodness did you

did you feel like you're stealing my

slides you already saw them someone

showed them deal

I'm definitely covering that in just a

few slides you can do that maybe that's

not your audience if it is a more

serious type of audience you can say

thank you so much other question I

actually have some details in some

future slides but I think will help

answer that question do you mind if we

wait to get to those slides no you

acknowledge your question you let them

know you heard it and you also said I

already have an answer for you another

way I like to handle questions this is

particularly for that one person who

always asks questions that there's

probably not a reason for the question

besides they just want to hear their own

voice again that's okay so what I like

to say or maybe this is someone who

throughout the presentation keeps

raising their hand keeps asking

questions that aren't really relevant

that aren't really gonna get to the

topic that you're trying to cover so

what I like to say to them is wow thank

you so much it's a really great question

no one has actually ever asked that so

if you don't mind can you send me an

email and I will try and trying to

answer that question for you

so you're letting this person know you

were gonna answer the question and all

they have to do is email you and

hopefully after a few times of them

doing this cuz trust me they will ask

more than once they will learn to just

send you an email or speak to you after

the presentation with their questions

the fourth way I like to handle

questions it really depends on the

scenario but when I'm training the class

or speaking in front of a big room where

people are familiar with the topic

someone asks a question and I don't

really know the answer to it or I sort

of know but I want to get the rooms

participation what I say is that's a

great question you know what I'll put

that to the room who in the room would

like to help answer that question

who in the room would like to answer the

question who on this call would like to

help answer this question and then you

can get feedback from different people

in the room and everyone has contributed

to the conversation and the overall

learnings to whatever your presentation

is so those are four different ways that

I like to handle questions while I'm

presenting thank you so much for

watching this video have an amazing day

and good luck in your presentation

3

Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the video.

01According to the video, what are the two main advantages of asking someone to email you an unexpected question?
Sample answerFirst, it shows that you've acknowledged their question and are taking it seriously. Second, it puts the responsibility on them to follow up. The speaker suggests that if they don't email, the question probably wasn't that important to begin with.
02Why might a presenter choose a humorous response over a serious one when an audience member asks about a topic that will be covered later?
Sample answerThe speaker says it really depends on the audience. A humorous response, like pretending they've seen your slides already, would work well with a more relaxed group to build rapport. For a more formal or serious audience, a straightforward answer would be more appropriate.
03How does the speaker recommend managing a person who continually asks questions that are not very relevant?
Sample answerShe suggests complimenting them by saying it's a great and unique question, but then asking them to send an email for the answer. The goal is that after doing this a few times, the person will learn to send their questions by email or wait until after the presentation.
04In what type of setting is it most appropriate to ask the audience to help answer a question, and what is the main benefit of this approach?
Sample answerThis technique is best for a large group where people are already familiar with the topic. The main benefit is that it encourages participation from everyone and turns a moment where the presenter doesn't know the answer into a collaborative learning experience for the whole room.
4

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
To think on your feet — to be able to think and react quickly, especially in a difficult or unexpected situation.
Usage note: This is a common idiom used in professional and informal contexts. It's often used to describe a key skill for public speaking.
To field questions — to receive and deal with a series of questions, especially from an audience or journalists.
Usage note: This is a professional-sounding phrase. For example, 'After the presentation, the CEO will field questions from the press.'
To go off on a tangent — to suddenly start talking about a subject that is not directly connected with the main topic.
Usage note: This can describe either a speaker or an audience member. You might say, 'Let's not go off on a tangent; we need to stick to the agenda.'
To buy some time — to do or say something in order to delay having to make a decision or give a direct answer.
Usage note: A useful strategy in a Q&A. Phrases like 'That's an excellent question' can help you buy some time to think of a good answer.
To put someone on the spot — to force someone to answer a difficult question or make a decision when they are not prepared.
Usage note: This phrase describes the pressure of being asked an unexpected question. For example, 'I felt like he was trying to put me on the spot with that question about our budget.'
5

Decide if each statement is true or false. Correct the false ones.

01The strategies discussed in the video are only suitable for in-person presentations.
02One reason to ask an audience member to email their question is that they often won't, which suggests the question wasn't that important.
03When an audience member asks about a topic that will be covered later, the speaker recommends always using a humorous response.
04If you don't know the answer to a question, one effective strategy is to ask the audience for their input.
05The speaker believes that people who ask questions are always genuinely seeking information.
6

Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.

  1. The video suggests asking the person to email you later. Do you think this is an effective way to handle a tough question, or could it make the presenter seem evasive? Discuss the pros and cons of this technique.
  2. Think about the professional or academic culture in your country. How is it generally viewed when an audience member asks a question that seems designed to 'stump the presenter'? Is it considered a sign of intelligence or disrespect?
  3. Imagine you have to field questions from a very critical audience. Besides not knowing an answer, what other situations might force you to think on your feet? How could you buy some time without seeming unprepared?