I often hear eloquent presenters deliver interesting presentations.
You might say, “Marjorie, that’s great. Isn’t that what you coach people to do?”
My response, of course, is, “Yes, it is.”
The goal in all presentations (and what I teach) is to:
· Craft an effective message
· Deliver that message dynamically
· Get results
However, the presentation itself often isn’t enough.
If you can’t handle the questions (which might come throughout the presentation), then the impact of your presentation is totally diminished … along with your credibility.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to provide ideas on how to handle any questions that are asked — both during and at the end of your presentation.
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when preparing your presentation:
1) Think like audience members, and anticipate what types of questions they will ask. If you were an audience member, what would you want to know about your topic?
2) Be prepared for all scenarios. Specifically, anticipate the worst questions audience members will ask, and the questions you don’t want to get.
3) Remember, people ask questions to get information, hear themselves talk, and sometimes, to challenge you, the speaker. Before responding, figure out why people actually are asking.
When you anticipate the questions, you will be much better prepared – exuding confidence.
After all, there is no “prize” in surprise!