Handling questions
- Make sure you understand the question you are being asked.
- Repeat it in your own words to check your understanding.
- Ask the questioner to repeat the question if you didn't hear it well or understand enough to repeat it. This also gives you time to think of what to say!
- Repeat even a short or simple question to make sure that the audience has heard.
- Answer to the best of your ability - Try to be brief.
- If you don't know the answer, don't panic! Try one of these strategies:
- Say that you don't know but offer to find the answer.
- Say that you don't know and ask if anyone else in the audience can give a brief answer.
- Say that you don't know and suggest a source where the person might find the answer.
- Say that you don't know but answer a related question.
- If no one has a question, answer a question you have prepared in advance by saying, "An important question that often comes up is . . ."