Picture this: you’ve spent weeks practising your presentation and you finally deliver it - it’s just how you always dreamed. Despite your anxieties you nailed it. Your class applauds and you heave a sigh of relief, wiping your brow like a cartoon character. But then you hear the lecturer bellow those terrifying words: does anyone have any questions? You’ve completely forgotten about this part, and you don’t know what to do. Sometimes the most challenging element of a presentation can be the Q&A. But it can also be the most impressive, if you’re prepared. Here’s some pointers from the Present Pal team…
Remember that questions are a good sign
While you may be worrying that your presentation Q&A will kick in your fight-or-flight response, causing a brain-wobble, remember that people asking questions and being curious about your topic is a good sign, it means they were engaged with your presentation. You could even write a little note to yourself in the
Present Pal app on your final slide, to remind yourself of that in the moment, to help calm your nerves.
Research FAQs
One of the simplest ways of preparing for a Q&A is to research commonly asked questions for your topic, exploring every possible angle. This will also help you feel more confident in your overall knowledge, and give you the tools to answer any tricky questions. If you don’t know the answer to something, that’s okay, you won’t be an expert on every presentation you give. So it’s acceptable to say that you don’t know the exact answer, but you can follow up with something related to the question that you do know, to convey your competence.
If you rehearse your presentation for friends or family beforehand, ask them what questions they have after the presentation. This will give you an idea of what people want to know. Using the Present Pal app is a great way of rehearsing, you can listen to past rehearsals and set target times.
“What if someone asks a question because they disagree with your statements? Use what psychologists call ‘in group’ thinking.”
Connect with your audience
It’s likely that your audience are your peers and so they’ll be in the same position as you in being tasked with delivering a presentation. So while you’ll feel like you’re in the hot seat, remember that your classmates will be too. Using that empathy will help you feel on more of an equal level with your audience during the Q&A portion and help you connect with them, which in turn will allow a more relaxed and conversational approach.
But what if someone asks a question because they disagree with your statements? Use what psychologists call ‘in group’ thinking, to make you and your audience feel like you share common ground. Start by thanking them for a great question, identifying the areas that you both agree in, echo their question back to them to show you understood, then explain your perspective.
Demonstrate your knowledge
If you’ve spent a few agonising weeks preparing and rehearsing your presentation, thinking about the Q&A as an opportunity to make all of that work worth it. It’s a great way to show off your knowledge on the topic, and this will definitely impress your lecturer and increase your chances of a good grade.
Keen to know how Present Pal can help you nail your presentation? Find out more here.