How can you recover from a difficult Q&A session as a public speaker?

One thing I suggest is to never end your talk on a Q&A. Instead save 5 minutes of your talking time and your close for after the Q&A. Your close is the last impression your audience will have of you. It can be the most meaningful and powerful part of your entire speech. If you end on a Q&A the last question may be off topic or you might struggle with your answer. You don't want to give the power of your ending over to the last question asker. Instead answer the questions, have a pre-planned transition back into your content, and powerfully wrap up your talk. Q&A is an awesome way to involve your audience. It makes sense at the end, or even throughout, but don’t have it be your close.

One thing to remember: ABC Always Be Calm. Regardless of how unnerving the question is, it's up to you to choose how you respond to it. Get in the habit of responding, not reacting - and you'll always feel in control.

I once asked a speaker a challenging question during Q&A. She sneered at me, then said, "Oh, there's always a bully like you in the audience" before answering the question - badly! Worse, I was her last question, and she didn't plan a closing. So in a way, I got the last word, which derailed her message. What she could have done instead: If you disagree with the question or find it offensive, don't react defensively or angrily. Instead, try to reframe the question in a more positive or neutral way, and explain your perspective. For example, you could say, "I appreciate your point of view, but I see things differently. Let me explain why..." I think she would have won over the audience if she used that approach!

Firstly, we're all human. We make mistakes. We take it on the chin and don't beat ourselves up about it. The best thing to do is, if you can, watch back the Q&A. Figure out what it was that caught us off-guard then take time to look at how we could improve our questioned answering. Usually mistakes are made when we answer a question without truly listening to what was being asked. The better we listen, the better we can answer.

Actually I'd recommend the opposite! Never say: that's a great question. I know some people who will say say after EVERY question and people can see right through that you're only trying to buy time. What you can do if you do need a couple of seconds to collect your thought is rephrase their question because sometimes the audience might want to ask something but worded it differently and asked another question entirely. Since you can probably guess what they wanted to actually ask, rephrase or paraphrase their question.

It's crucial to remain genuine and avoid pretending to have all the answers. Acknowledge your limitations and commit to providing accurate information. Offer assurance that you will gather additional relevant details and follow up promptly. This approach fosters trust, transparency, and ensures a thorough response tailored to the situation.

As a public speaker, recovering from a challenging Q&A session involves addressing the question directly and transparently. For example, if faced with a difficult question, a speaker might respond by saying, "That's a complex issue, and I appreciate your concern. To provide a comprehensive answer, let me break it down into a few key points." By acknowledging the complexity and committing to a structured response, the speaker can demonstrate transparency and a willingness to engage with challenging topics, turning a difficult moment into an opportunity to showcase their expertise and composure.

Rehearse saying "I don't know". Say it with all the conviction and confidence of Simon Sinek, Brené Brown, or someone else with amazing presence. Create variations of this sentence that sound like you: "I don't know, however what I can share is...". "I haven't experienced that scenario, but it reminds me of XYZ...". Or, hand the mic over: "I don't know. But (colleague) has been working on this, so if we give her a moment to think she may be able to share now or after we wrap up today (get confirmation)". The aim is to not feel the need to answer all of the questions but to be curious. Your presence then becomes "I want to know more" than "I know it all".

1. Address the question in the most logical manner to the best of your ability. 2. Don't be rude or defensive even if the audience member is clearly just trying to put you down publicly. 3. Use humour if you're good at it to break the ice/tension or negative energy 4. If it's something that is not your expertise, say so - "Great question but I am really not the expert on this subject." 5. If you don't know the answer, say so - "Honestly, I don't know the answer to this! But I am going to find out and let you know. Let's connect offline." Most audience members - even if unruly, can be managed with smiles, humility and honesty!

When someone poses a question, simplicity and relatability are key! Picture describing tricky stuff to a child. For instance, Answer the question in a way that people can relate to their daily lives, keeping it simple and using a storytelling approach for easy recall. If you don't know the answer, don't feel embarrassed or scared. Just say, "I don't have any idea."

After answering, check the understanding and satisfaction of the questioner and the audience. Ask if they are satisfied or have additional questions. Encourage feedback to demonstrate openness to dialogue, learning, and concern for their perspectives.

Move on gracefully from a tough Q&A session by focusing on the positives. Acknowledge the learning points, but don't dwell on mistakes. Shift your energy towards future opportunities, armed with the lessons gained. A graceful attitude helps maintain confidence and resilience in your journey as a public speaker.

I’d have to disagree, it’s rarely a good idea to go back to someone after you answered their question to see if they were satisfied. More often than not they will think of something else they wanted to ask you and then you get into a conversation with one person and everyone else becomes disengaged. Instead, check for understanding BEFORE answering the question. You can do this by repeating the question you’ve been asked while looking at the person and confirm that’s what they want to know. Wait for them to nod then go ahead and answer the question. When you’ve finished, move straight on to ask “who else has a question” this shows confidence and leadership. Going back to the person to check your response shows insecurity.

I do a little Rogerian (Carl Raogers)therapy. I repeat the question, phrased a little differently. Clarifies it for me and if it is a stupid question, it clarifies it for the audience.

Checking for understanding and satisfaction is key to recovering from a challenging Q&A session. After addressing a question, ensure the questioner and the audience feel adequately informed. Politely ask if the response addressed their concerns and if additional clarification is needed. Encourage follow-up questions to gauge audience engagement and clarify any lingering uncertainties. This approach demonstrates a commitment to open communication and a genuine interest in meeting the audience's needs, cultivating a positive and collaborative atmosphere even in challenging moments.

One thing that’s always worked for me is being honest with the audience. If its something I dont know about, I will let you know. If its not my place to speak? I’ll let you know. And if you ask me a tough question, I’ll try my best to answer and then go back, look it up and learn more. Being a public speaker means always evolving and being open to feedback. You only get better!

In order to deal with a difficult QnA session, I prefer humour. Yes, humour. Why? Humour beats awkwardness. Now what that would do is to make you a little more comfortable in the setting, and your audience would be a little more sympathetic too. Also, show that you more than willing answered everything- you did your best, and move on on a humble note.

If you can’t answer a question, apologize and tell them you will research it and find out. Or be honest and tell them that particular topic is out of your wheelhouse. I once was not able to successfully treat a clinician in front of a group of clinicians. Feedback was positive actually - one participant of my course said I didn’t lose my cool and it was realistic to see the instructor say, “we can’t have a 100% success record or make every single person better.” Know your limits and be transparent about them.

Humor can also help here, because if you feel the situation is awkward, most likely many audience members do too. It’s ok to break the tension with some mild humor - something like “Whew! Got out of that one!”

You can’t possibly know the answer to every question. No one expects you to. Acknowledge it’s a good question and that you aren’t sure on the answer. Perhaps even pose the question back to the person who asked. Great questions inspire great dialogue, so use that!

As a speaker I've found that questions asked during Q&A are fertile ground for refinement of my presentation or for developing entirely new future speaking topics. The questions asked typically aren't isolated. If one audience member is thinking something, others probably are as well. If someone asks a clarifying question about the content, that's an area of my presentation I review as part of a postmortem to see how I can make it clearer for future audiences. If a question is about something outside the scope of this presentation but touches on a hot topic (especially if others in the audience respond positively to the question), that becomes a topic to explore for developing a new presentation. Use Q&A to drive speaking effectiveness!

Be brave enough learn out loud. Take to social to post the question and how you feel you could have answered better, add more materials, show you're a good listener and you will follow through on your commitment to engage the audience, even after the event.

If you continue to get the same question over and over in the Q&A, it probably means you’re not communicating a point well enough in the presentation. Consider revising for next time!

We all know that when we walk off the stage, what we remember is what DIDN’T go well rather than what did. By and large, this is your survival brain trying to protect you from future mistakes. So it’s important to acknowledge that this is simply the nature of the brain – to focus on what didn’t go well. Having said that, it can also be an opportunity for growth. Ask yourself, instead of dwelling on the negative: what can I do better next time? How can I revamp my presentation, my Q&A preparation, my rhetorical questions, my slide deck? Do the implementation while motivation is fresh – then get back on another stage and present it again. It will only get better and better.

1. Remain composed: Take a deep breath and keep your cool. 2. Acknowledge mistakes: Admit any errors gracefully and with humility. 3. Redirect focus: Return to your main point, steering clear of the uncomfortable question. 4. Reflect and learn: Analyze the session critically and seek feedback to improve.

Manage your question time. All too often we hear speakers say, "any questions?" and all the control is passed over to the audience who can ask what they want, when they want and how they want. Use signposting ...Before I finally finish, are there any questions ( I've not finished yet, don't switch off!). Before my final point, we have time for two questions (control over number) . I am drawing to a close, before that we have five minutes for Q and A (control over time). Before I finally finish, are there any questions on what I've said so far (control over content) I'd like to leave you with a final thought, before that is there a burning question you NEED to have answered (control over urgency and relevance)

Try to be over prepared - expect to get these harder questions. Be ready. Don’t look flustered - you are ready with these insight answers. Thanks - Sheila

Research and write your keynote. Read everything you can about the client AND interview 2 or 3 execs there. Ask them how they want attendees to *feel* after the keynote - adjust, practice, deliver. Be gratious and follow up.

As a public speaker, continuous practice and improvement are critical to recovering from a challenging Q&A session. After analyzing the difficult questions or situations encountered, focus on refining your responses and improving your communication skills. For instance, if you struggled with articulating complex concepts, practice simplifying and delivering them more effectively. Conduct mock Q&A sessions with peers or mentors to receive constructive feedback and identify areas for improvement. By consistently practicing and seeking opportunities for improvement, you'll build confidence and resilience, ensuring that you're better prepared to handle challenging questions in future speaking engagements.

My favourite comedian once said, "Take risks in the small rooms so when you go to big rooms it’s better". This is something I say time and time again when delivering presentations and managing a Q&A Taking risks is the absolute best way to grow and develop. When we make mistakes or fail, we see it as a negative, whereas we should see a FAIL as our First Attempt In Learning! Taking questions and not knowing the answer or stumbling over your response is like making progress in the gym. The hard times are a sign of progression! So start small, welcome questions from your audience, ask them questions, and expect feedback during each presentation, and over time, this will be a routine and powerful part of your delivery.

Never ever finish on q & a Take questions in the middle if you have too Finish with your best line ,call to action. Leave them wanting more.

How podcasting and coaching helped me with Q&As. Q&As will test your subject knowledge, your ego and your ability to articulate your point on the fly. Podcasting helped me become concise. The goal was to keep the conversation going, which meant asking good quetions as succinctly as possible, to spend less time talking. That skill then flowed into coaching, which required interaction, asking good questions, then responding when needed. The responses had to be thoughtful, measured, yet impactful & actionable. Lastly, building the skill to say "I dont know". Far too often the ego takes over and we try to speak on subjects we arent prepped for, leading to fumbling, stumbling & saying things you shouldnt from a place of overwhelm.

Be prepared .. then any difficult Q & A should be managed well and hopefully to your advantage. I’m amazed and positively flabbergasted to still see Executives appear on media outlets so unprepared ??♀???♀?

Avoid the difficult Q&A altogether by incorporating your responses to potentially hostile questions in your earlier responses. There are three points when you can respond to an objection or something objectionable: before, during or after. It's obvious which is best.

Rule number 1 : "If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail" so do the legwork, spare quality time before the talk on the topics to be covered. You should do this out of respect to yourself first and to the audience who are there to hear, learn from you. The more you practice, whether on your own, looking at mirror, recording yourself on video and watching it after, these will all help you to control your nerves, keep calm, control your nerve system and prevent it pushing you to fight or flight mode, improve your capability to articulate better responses and get more and more capable of tackling even tough questions. And be yourself, don't forget "people see you sweat".