Comments on: Is it OK to ask questions of audience members? http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/18/is-it-ok-to-ask-questions-of-audience-members/ Speaking Excellence Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:33:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Public Speaking Blog Articles: Week in Review [2008-04-19] http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/18/is-it-ok-to-ask-questions-of-audience-members/#comment-163 Public Speaking Blog Articles: Week in Review [2008-04-19] Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:17:06 +0000 http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/18/is-it-ok-to-ask-questions-of-audience-members/#comment-163 [...] TJ Walker suggests you direct questions to your audience. [...] […] TJ Walker suggests you direct questions to your audience. […]

]]> By: Terry Gault http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/18/is-it-ok-to-ask-questions-of-audience-members/#comment-159 Terry Gault Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:58:36 +0000 http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/18/is-it-ok-to-ask-questions-of-audience-members/#comment-159 You are absolutely right on this point; little says more about you to those with whom you interact with than how you answer their questions. Some people show annoyance when a question derails their monologue. Their body language reflects the thought, "why is this person interrupting?" A question indicates interest in your subject -- embrace it. - Show respect for the question and the questioner. - Step or lean in toward the questioner and smile receptively. - Paraphrase the question to make sure you understand it correctly. - Ask for clarification. Delve into the deeper issues behind the question. "Help me understand your concern around this issue." "Why is that important to you?" "Can you give me an example?" "Say more about that." "How does that play out in your organization?" - Pause one second before answering. - Answer the question simply and directly. Don't skirt it but also don't answer more than was asked. - Confirm, "Have I answered your question?" Anything but a clear yes means no. In which case, you should dive back in: "Help me. It sounds like I missed something." Practice Some of the seeds we offer will bear fruit immediately, others will germinate for a time and pop up to surprise you in communications to come. Do not become discouraged if at first your mind is numbed by the number of things we are encouraging you to be aware of and to try. Thanks for the post! You are absolutely right on this point; little says more about you to those with whom you interact with than how you answer their questions.

Some people show annoyance when a question derails their monologue. Their body language reflects the thought, “why is this person interrupting?”

A question indicates interest in your subject — embrace it.

- Show respect for the question and the questioner.

- Step or lean in toward the questioner and smile receptively.

- Paraphrase the question to make sure you understand it correctly.

- Ask for clarification. Delve into the deeper issues behind the question.

“Help me understand your concern around this issue.”

“Why is that important to you?”

“Can you give me an example?”

“Say more about that.”

“How does that play out in your organization?”

- Pause one second before answering.

- Answer the question simply and directly. Don’t skirt it but also don’t answer more than was asked.

- Confirm, “Have I answered your question?” Anything but a clear yes means no. In which case, you should dive back in: “Help me. It sounds like I missed something.”

Practice

Some of the seeds we offer will bear fruit immediately, others will germinate for a time and pop up to surprise you in communications to come.

Do not become discouraged if at first your mind is numbed by the number of things we are encouraging you to be aware of and to try.

Thanks for the post!

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