Do you love it or hate it?
Some people love it, some hate it. I speak of Public Speaking!
Some feel fine talking about what they know but feel nervous about the prospect of awkward questions, difficult questioners and even hecklers.
So, whilst my previous blogs have tended to focus on preparing your speech and presenting with clarity, this blog offers tips on managing audience interventions.
Pre-empt unnecessary interruptions.
You can prevent some interventions by letting people know when you intend to give them space to speak. For example, you could suggest they note down whilst you’re talking the questions they want to ask at the end when you’ll open it up for questions. However, if they can’t hear properly or there’s something they don’t understand, you might want to say it’s fine for them to raise a hand to ask. It helps to manage your audience and gives you authority in the room, and something to refer back to if someone suddenly asks a question that is best left to the end. After all, you may be about to cover the issue in your speech.
Be courteous and respectful to hostile questioners.
No matter how hostile the question or questioner, irrelevant a question, or long-winded the speech in the guise of a question, show respect, stay calm and don’t undermine anyone even if they’re trying to undermine you! With hostile comments and questions, show that you’ve been listening by reflecting back what they’ve said e.g., “I’ve listened to what you said about x and y, and I’d like to give my perspective”. With irrelevant questions, you could say that it’s an interesting point though outside the scope of the meeting and you’d be happy to talk with them at the end. With long-winded questions, you might ask them to summarise their key question, or clarify it yourself to the audience so they know what you’re answering e.g., “I’m going to answer your point about ….”
When one or two people are hostile, it can feel as if the whole room is against you. Whilst you will want to address contrary questions, providing facts, acknowledging someone’s concerns or frustrations, remember then to continue to make eye contact with those who are with you, rather than allowing the ‘hecklers’ to distract you throughout.
Manage the time.
When you invite audience participation, for example, with comments, or during a training programme, it’s essential to manage both your own time and that of those attending. In rehearsing for the event, time both your whole presentation or speech as well as the constituent parts. This way you will be able to see as you’re presenting, whether something is taking longer than expected which will affect how you deliver something later on in your talk or training activity.
Be clear with audiences and participants how long they have to contribute, or to carry out an activity and when the time is nearly at a close. For comments and contributions, have a way of indicating when you want someone to draw to a close, e.g., “one more minute”. With interactive presenting, it’s helpful to let people know, for example, when they have say ten minutes for the activity and again three minutes left to finish up.
Help! I don’t know the answer!
If you worry that someone will ask you a question and you won’t know the answer, be comforted by the reality that no one person can have the answer to everything. What is important here is to avoid awkward apologies and instead respond with confidence. You could thank them for raising this question, say you don’t have the answer now and offer to look into it, and revert to them later. If the answer is of interest generally to the audience, tell them you’ll be emailing them.
Be prepared.
Despite it seeming that you can prepare a speech but not for the questions and interruptions, there is much you can do to prepare. Guesstimate the questions and comments you might get and plan how to respond. Keep a record of questions asked each time you speak and present, the responses you gave, what worked well and what you might do differently. This will help you feel more in control in the moment.
I’m interested to hear:
Your tips on handling awkward questions and audiences
A helping hand
If you feel 1-2-1 coaching would be helpful to address speaking nerves or develop your confidence and style as a speaker, presenter or trainer, do get in touch.
Contact me via my email or website and I will aim to reply within 24 hours.
