Yes, you should always give people the option of asking you questions, unless there are strict time restraints that prohibit you from doing so. Most presenters find question-and-answer time easier than delivering a prepared presentation, so you might even find you are more relaxed during this part of your presentation. Audiences also typically enjoy question time more because it allows them the opportunity to participate.
Make no mistake about it: your audience sees your ability to answer questions as a big part of your overall presentation. You need to let people ask you questions, and you need to seem happy about their doing so. Movie stars like Tom Cruise or disgraced politicians can get away with refusing questions, but you can’t; so don’t even try.
Please keep in mind the following tips regarding Q&A sessions:
If the audience is fewer than 30 people and there is no hard-and-fast time constriction, encourage people to ask questions at any time during your presentation, not just at the conclusion.
Listen carefully to each question in its entirety. What you think is the gist of the question might not be once you hear the whole thing.
Look at the person asking you the question the whole time he or she is asking.
Begin and end your answer by looking at the person who asked the question. But look at everyone else in the room during the middle of the answer, so they don’t feel left out.
Limit your answers to a couple of minutes or less; don’t give another entire presentation in answer to a question.
Don’t say “good question”—just answer it. (Nobody cares about your opinions on questions, and everyone feels their question was a good one; otherwise, they wouldn’t have asked it.)
If someone starts to give a mini-speech instead of asking a question and you sense others in the audience are getting annoyed, feel free to interrupt after one minute and ask, “Sir (or ma’am), what is the question?”
If an audience member gives a long-winded rambling series of questions and criticisms that you can tell didn’t resonate with the audience, don’t feel obligated to give a detailed point-by-point response. Instead, simply look at the audience member and say, “Thanks for sharing that,” and move on to the next question.
If one person asks more than two questions—especially if the questions don’t seem interesting to the rest of the crowd—respond this way: “Sir, I’d like to give your concerns the utmost attention they deserve. Because they are complex issues, I’d like to talk to you immediately after the presentation is over so I can address them in more detail. Thanks.” Obviously, this doesn’t apply if the person asking the question is your boss, a key decision maker, or your number one client.
There can occasionally be an awkward silence if no one wants to ask the first question, so be prepared by having a question for yourself. You can say, “While you are preparing your questions, let me share with you a question I am frequently asked … (then ask yourself a common question, and answer it). This will typically prime the pump for others to ask you questions.
If you have a hard-and-fast time for finishing the presentation—say, 1:00 PM—and you can tell that half of your audience has to leave right then but the other half still has questions, then I would suggest saying the following: “It’s now three minutes till 1:00. I will take one more question now and then we will officially conclude at 1:00, as scheduled, since I know that many of you have to leave then to make your next appointment. But for those who have more questions, please stay; we will be happy to answer questions down here in front once our colleagues have had a chance to leave.” Then conclude your Q&A after the “official” ending of your presentation.
Have fun with question-and-answer time. This is a chance to show people that you are quick on your feet, knowledgeable, and a real person.
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