What to do if you can't answer a question after a presentation? (2023)

What to do if you can't answer a question after a presentation?

Handling difficult questions

Repeating the question and asking for clarification will help create some space for your thoughts. Sometimes you will need to think about a question for a moment before responding. You may be able to buy a little bit of thinking time to help focus your response.

Good ways to say anything but "No Comment" to questions you really don't want to answer: "I'm sorry but I'm not able to speak to that subject" "Thanks for asking but I'm not able to answer that question" "I'm sorry but that information is proprietary"

Try saying something along the lines of, “That's an interesting question, could I take some time to think it over and get back to you?” or “That's a great question, I could give you a partial answer, but I would like to consider it further and get back to you with a full answer.”

Spend more time listening and asking

Instead, gently get to the root of the question. It might be that the customer is asking about a product or service you don't even offer. If that's the case, you can simply inform them that they can seek the answer from the appropriate authority.

Lack of direction. Ensure you have a clear structure to your speech with a beginning, middle and end, with appropriate signposts and transitions to keep your audience on track. Lack of energy. Counteract this by projecting your voice, varying your pace and pitch, and using gestures.

What is the hardest thing in giving presentation?

The beginning is the hardest part when it comes to giving presentations. Having the full first minute of your presentation committed to memory will help you at the most critical moment.

What is NOT a good strategy if you are unable to answer a question from an audience member during your presentation? Acknowledge you don't know the answer and say the question was irrelevant to the topic of the presentation.

It may come from nerves, lack of focus, or even over-preparing. All of this can cause a lot of stress, and it does not make us better speakers. The phenomenon of going blank isn't limited to people with full-blown speech anxiety. Serious blackouts are comparatively rare.

The 5/5/5 Rule explains what it is right in the name: when creating slides for your presentation, use at most: 5 words on a single line. 5 lines of text on a single slide. 5 slides that apply the first two rules in a row.

Many situations will call for you to be seated rather than standing when you are presenting your ideas. Sitting with your listeners can convey a sense of equality and intimacy that standing might not. Sitting can also help put your listeners at ease and contribute to a casual, relaxed tone.

With the right amount of practice, strategy and stamina, PowerPoints can go from okay to exceptional. With every presentation, there are obstacles that can cause your performance to fail. It's easy to fall into these traps and hurt your potential success.

What is the 7 by 7 rule in presentation?

The 7x7 Rule says that, for each slide in your presentation, you should use no more than: 7 lines (or bullets) per slide. 7 (or fewer) words per line.

Failing to engage emotionally.

You risk losing your audience when you just “state the facts,” even in a business setting. No presentation should be devoid of emotion, no matter how cerebral the topic or the audience. Speak to people's hearts as well as their minds.

A good response would be, “I don't have managerial experience, but I was allowed to take the lead on various projects where I delegated tasks to other co-workers and received specified results.

To deal with negative feedback, you need to: Listen to that feedback. Decide if that feedback is constructive or not. Take that feedback to heart moving forward, or simply let it go.

After your presentation, follow up with a thank-you note, a survey, or supplementary reading material, like a slidedoc. This will keep your message fresh in people's minds. But don't overtly solicit your audience.

What should you do if you can't provide an answer to an audience member's question?

What should you do if you can't provide an answer to an audience member's question? Offer to look into the question and follow up with the audience member. How can you project confidence when delivering a presentation? Take care with your appearance even if the audience can't see you.