What are the best ways to end a Q&A session?

Never end with a Q&A session! What? Gasp! Hear me out. You can plan your Q&A session NEAR the end, but not AT the end. Instead, always plan a strong closing statement. That's the end of your presentation. I often like to say, "I'd like to leave you with one closing thought. But first, I'm going to open up the floor for questions." After the Q&A is over, I'll say, "Let me leave you with my closing thought..." And then, I deliver my closing statement. That way, you get to have the last word. Don't leave the last word up to a random, off-beat, or off-topic question! Plan a strong close, and USE IT!

If you are using a Q&A, two things must be true. 1 - you're good at extemporaneous speech. You can't just say what's already been said. It must be more personal and tailored - on the fly. 2 - you must follow Laura Bergells advice and end the Q&A with a statement. You get the last word to make one final memory (what happens last is often stuck in their memory the most) - so be clear (3 ideas max), very brief, and full of positive emotion!

The number one most important element of planning for your Q&A is not to finish on Q&A. If the event organizers have asked you to leave the last 10 minutes for questions, wrap up your key ideas for your presentation at 15 minutes before the end of your time. Take the questions and then deliver your wrap up. How many times are the questions weak, long, confused or not questions but statements? Too often. Don't allow lousy questions to hurt your last impression on stage.

For any q and a session at the end for a session I’m moderating- I’m always writing down what people are saying so in the end there can be a great summary statement that combines the content and ideas from whoever is in the q and a session - basically find some common themes w and regurgitate what they say quickly as an end summary statement. For q and a as part of a presentation suggest taking questions way earlier and maybe throughout depending how long the presentation is / gives audience time to digest and interact and keeps engagement up

Recap the gold, igniting a spark with a memorable final thought or a call to action that sticks. Gratitude is key—thank your audience for their curiosity and engagement. Leave them wanting more by offering a way to connect beyond the room, be it social media or email. Remember, the end of your Q&A isn't just a close, it’s your encore, making sure your message doesn't just land but lingers.

Choosing the last question wisely can leave a memorable impact on your audience and reinforce key points from your presentation. Aim for a question that ties back to your main message or allows you to showcase your expertise. Additionally, consider using the "planting" technique strategically to ensure a smooth conclusion.

Have your own last question ready to ask!! You don't know if the last question the audience asks will be the best to end your talk. YOU end with your final question, where you answer and transition right into your closing remarks. Works like a charm and you getting to end on a prepared high note!

I find that the last question you CHOOSE to answer, can be the MOST powerful. After all, the final question can solidify the message to your entire presentation, spark curiosity, and leave your audience inspired. To choose one strategically, I suggest the following: 1. Pick a question that allows you to reiterate your main message, leaving the audience with a clear takeaway. 2. Select a question that prompts you to share a new insight or anecdote, keeping the audience engaged till the very end. 3. Opt for a question that allows you to leave your audience feeling inspired, hopeful, or motivated. If you can do these, you will naturally find a last question that resonates with you, AND your audience. All the best!

Closing with a closest question .??(Closest to the main subject) Your final question has to be directly related to the speech's theme. Thus, the response may help you in closing up the session in a meaningful manner.

Another effective way to end a Q&A session is by choosing the last question wisely. You can strategically select a question that allows you to summarize key points from your presentation or address a topic that hasn't been covered yet but is relevant to the audience. For example, if you've been discussing the importance of innovation in business, you could choose a question that prompts you to reiterate the main benefits of innovation and its impact on industry trends. This ensures that the session ends on a strong note, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

My problem is that I do tend to talk too much and lose track of the time. Generally the moderator will signal me to indicate the time. I'll wrap by saying "I'll take two more questions but afterwards I will be around for more discussion." I will thank the moderator and the audience. Usually I have a dozen or so people who want to chat some more or ask to have a coffee. When you signal the end but will allow for more afterwards, people are pretty happy with it.

Determine how much time is left and how many questions you will answer. Additionally, indicate to the audience how many questions you plan to answer. The audience like the bonus question, so when you offer them one more, they'll be thrilled.

As a speaker, you have to PREPARE your audience for closing of the event. After answering the last question, here are some tips to gracefully close the curtain: 1. Use phrases like, "One last question, please," or "Before we wrap up," to signal the end. 2. Maintain eye contact with the final questioner, nod encouragingly, and adjust your posture to convey closure. 3. If time constraints are tight, politely but firmly thank remaining questioners and offer alternative channels for follow-up. Remember, by closing up nicely, you show that you can respect your audience's time and that will leave them with a good feeling about you. All the best!

A mentor once told me: "Only you know when your speech comes to an end, your audience is clueless until you tell them". His point being - you bear the responsibility to guide your audience throughout your presentation. For a fluid context like a Q&A, this requires you to build a runway for your audience to scale down towards the end. Incrementally signal the end of the session by: > Reiterating process: Expectations for the time left, questions remaining, etc. > Consolidating insights: Start packing the discussion into understandable chunks for your audience to take home > Giving a future-perspective: Give the audience a "What's next?" teaser to keep them engaged Remember that the end of the session is not the end of your interaction!

Craft a deliberate and clear signal to signify the session's conclusion. Communicate gratitude, recap key takeaways, and provide information on next steps. This ensures a smooth and satisfying wrap-up, leaving participants with a sense of closure and appreciation for their engagement.

Express genuine appreciation for the audience's participation. Acknowledge their valuable questions, insights, and time. A heartfelt thank you reinforces a positive connection, leaving a memorable and appreciative note as the final touch to your Q&A session.

I always believe gratitude can go a long way, and a grateful speaker is a memorable speaker. Personally, I love to end my presentation with a sincere "thank you". This helps me acknowledge my audience's participation and shows them that value their engagement. To show your appreciation, here are some tips: 1. Mention specific questions that resonated with you or sparked interesting discussion. 2. Briefly summarize the key takeaways from the Q&A session, reinforcing your presentation's core message. 3. Encourage further exploration with additional resources, upcoming events, or contact information. Remember, a heartfelt thank you can transform a good presentation into a truly memorable experience. All the best!

Always consider the audience; after all, what's a public speaker without an audience? Ending a Q&A session requires a lot of tact and skill, but remember, it is a great indicator that your talk or speech was well-received. Make sure to plan in advance how much time you've allotted for questions. If you find yourself running out of time, announce that the question period has come to an end. For those with additional questions, encourage them to connect after the event for further discussion.

Be careful about falling into the trap of thanking every single audience member who asks a question before responding to it. It can become monotonous to hear the words "Thank you for your question" before you begin your response. Instead, invest the time to cleary articulate your point of view in response to each question.

Try and compliment your audience for their questions. Take names and talk to them while answering their questions if possible.

You can send a personalized thank-you email, share relevant resources or articles, or even schedule one-on-one consultations for further discussion. Additionally, requesting feedback allows you to continuously improve your presentation skills and address any concerns raised by the audience.

Remember to reiterate your big message after ending the Q&A. Do a quick summary (quick means real quick and not a 10 minute repeat of your entire presentation!) or end with a powerful quote or a call to action. Don't close off by just answering a question.

I like to build in a follow up early on. For example I might send a wide thankyou with a gift such as a copy of my book or free pdf ‘s to download. Depending on the session I will often build in a follow up 30 minute “Ask Rob” session a week or two later to cover off things that might have come up or to help the leadership team embed the changes I am suggesting and this gives me another touch point

Always collect feedback. Put a QR code on the screen that links to a simple survey. One way to execute this could be in the middle or near the end of your Q&A. For example, you could say "I'll take two more questions but first, I want to make sure I hear your feedback. Please scan this QR code and fill out a simple survey for me. Ok, last questions..." Yes, there may be some mild distraction as people take out there phones while you field the last two questions, BUT you are highly likely to get more respondents when asking here vs. asking when everything is over (and they start filing out of the room, start checking their email, etc.). Collect feedback, you deserve it!

?? Each Q&A session is a gift. Accept it and use it! Q&A sessions give you: ??valuable feedback on your presentation (if you read between the lines) ??priceless market research on what your audience really needs and wants ??an opportunity to demonstrate your expertise in action ? an invitation to continue the conversation, which could lead to future opportunities for speaking, collaboration and client work ??an opportunity to make a final, lasting impression. If you are lucky, you will have more questions than there is time to answer. Bravo! This is your cue to invite your audience to connect with you again. I like to do this with a no-obligation follow-up online session. The results amaze me. I hope it works just as well for you.

I always end my Q&A segments with: "Thank you for your great questions! Our conversation doesn't have to end here – I'll be right outside the session room for the next hour to answer more questions or to just meet! I'll see you out there." I always make sure to build this valuable time into my schedule/travel plans. This is a powerful way to get more mileage out of a speaking engagement - it turns a one-time presentation into an opportunity for extended discussion and relationship-building. Most importantly, it fosters a sense of community and collaboration by showing your attendees that you value their input and their time.

Always always have a closing. A short and concise takeaway is key to a good session. I don't normally recommend using Q&A from audience to end. A good way to get around it is to have a one question that you have planned ahead of time, as the FINAL one that the moderator will pose before the session concludes, that can be used to wrap the conversation up neatly.

I never put my Q&A at the very end of my talk. I find it's not as powerful. I stop right before my final story and conclusion and let the audience know we have 10 minutes (or however much) for questions. I prompt them to ask their questions and to share their A-ha moments (great for testimonials). When we approach the end of the time, I let them know I have time for one more question.. I answer it and then I go into the final story and my conclusion. That way I know I'm ending on the note I want to/is most beneficial for the audience. I always have a few planted questions, too. For use if the audience is particularly reserved or timid to ask.

End on a Positive Note. Share a positive or inspiring message related to the topic of discussion. This leaves the audience with a good impression of the session.

I end my Q&A with a 2-5 min "micro keynote" where I control the narrative. I do this because if the Q&A ends on a flat note, that's the last thing people remember - and instead of that being the last thing, I take control and share a story which is engaging, memorable, and rejuvenates the room so we finish on a strong note.