Taking questions

Questions are where a talk becomes a conversation, and often where people decide what they think of you. They're a chance, not a test.

A simple method

1. Listen to the whole question without interrupting.
2. Repeat or rephrase it briefly, so everyone (and the recording) hears it, and you check you understood.
3. Answer the question asked, briefly. Then stop.
4. Check: "Does that answer your question?"

Prepare in advance

List the ten hardest questions someone could ask: about your sample, baselines, limits, alternatives, why it matters. Prepare short answers, and backup slides for the most likely ones. Ask a friend to play the toughest audience member.

Difficult kinds of questions

• A question that's really a comment: thank them, respond briefly, and move on.
• A hostile tone: stay calm, answer the content, not the tone.
• A question you don't understand: ask them to rephrase. That's normal.
• A question that's too long to answer: "That's a great question; can we talk after the session?"

Respect the chair and the time

If the chair says time is up, finish your sentence and thank the audience.

RememberListen fully, repeat the question, answer briefly, check. Prepare answers to the ten hardest questions in advance.