CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
| Useful Information ANSWERING STRATEGIES
You need to decide when you want to answer questions. Allowing questions during your talk usually creates a rather informal, relaxed and friendly atmosphere because the questioner shows some respect for the presenter. You can answer questions directly and involve the audience. On the other hand, answering after the presentation gives you more control of your structure and timing. If you want questions after the talk, you can say that your time frame is very tight or the topic is rather complex.
Sometimes you may be asked questions during the presentation, even if you have asked the audience to wait. Whereas some questions can and should be answered quickly (for example, when a participant has not understood something you have said), you might prefer to postpone unwelcome questions or comments using the following phrases:
If you don’t mind, I’ll deal with this question (come back to this question) later in my presentation.
Can we get back to that a bit later?
Would you mind waiting with your questions until the question and answer session at the end?
Can we get back to this point a bit later?
I would prefer to answer your question in the course of my presentation.
Would you mind waiting until the question and answer session at the end?
Perhaps we could go over this after the presentation.
After answering questions, especially those that require a long answer, it is sometimes necessary to remind the audience what you were talking about before the interruption. You can use the following phrases:
Before we continue, let me briefly summarize the points we were discussing.
So, back to what I was saying about …
So, now I’d like to return to what we were discussing earlier.
| | Useful Information REFORMULATING QUESTIONS
It is sometimes necessary to reformulate a question (i. e. say it in another way) before answering it. This not only gives you time to think, it also allows you to make sure you have understood the question. With a large or noisy audience, it allows the other participants to hear the question (again) and finally, it gives you the chance to change the tone of the question, e. g. by making it less aggressive.
You can use the following phrases to reformulate questions:
I see. So, what you’re asking is...
If I understand you correctly, you want to know...
OK, let me just repeat your question so everybody can hear it.
If I could just rephrase your question ...
So, you are asking …
So, your question is about …
The question is about …
You would like to know …
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| Useful Information How to Improve the Way of Dealing with Questions?
There are several ways of dealing with questions.
Clarifying questions:
I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch that.
I’m sorry; could you repeat your question, please?
I’m sorry, but I missed that. Could you say that again, please?
I’m sorry, but I don’t quite follow/understand/see what you mean. Could you just explain that some more, please?
So, if I understood you correctly, you would like to know whether...
If I could just rephrase your question. You’d like to know...
Let me just check that I have understood your question. You’re asking...
Checking whether the questioner is satisfied:
Does that answer your question?
Is that clear/OK/clearer now?
Can we go on?
Is that the kind of information you were looking for?
Responses to good questions:
Good point. That’s interesting.
I’m glad you asked that/brought that up.
That’s a very good question.
That’s actually a question I frequently get asked.
Admitting you don’t know:
Sorry, I don’t know that off the top of my head.
I’m afraid I’m not in a position to answer that question at the moment.
I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to your question, but I’ll try to find out for you.
Interesting question. What do you think?
Sorry, that’s not my field. But I’m sure David Watson from Department of prices could answer your question.
I’m afraid I don’t have that information with me.
Responses to irrelevant questions:
Well, I think that goes beyond the scope of my expertise/presentation.
To be honest, I think that raises a different issue.
That’s not really my field.
I’m afraid I don’t see the connection.
Negative responses to questions:
Not quite. Not necessarily.
Not as a rule. Hopefully not.
I don’t think/believe so.
Hedging – not saying yes or no:
It depends. On the whole, yes.
Not if we can help it. To some extent.
Postponing questions:
If you don’t mind, I’ll deal with/come back to this point later in my presentation.
Can we get back to this point a bit later?
Would you mind waiting until the question and answer session at the end?
Perhaps we could go over this after the presentation.
I’d prefer to answer your question in the course of my presentation.
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