Stage 3 · Lesson 6 of 7
Handling questions
Questions worry many people more than the talk itself. Prepare for them: list the five questions you would least like to be asked and draft answers. When a question comes, pause, repeat or rephrase it so everyone heard and you have a moment to think, then answer briefly.
If you do not know, say so honestly: "I do not know, I will check and send it to you today." Then do. If a question is hostile, stay calm and answer the reasonable part.
Common trapguessing an answer to avoid saying "I do not know", which is the moment an audience stops trusting what you have said before.
A question to check yourself and an AI practice session come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- CourseFreeIntroduction to Public Speaking (University of Washington, Coursera)
University of Washington on Coursera · Beginner
A free-to-audit University of Washington course on preparing and giving talks
- VideoFreeHow to Speak So That People Want to Listen (Julian Treasure, TEDGlobal 2013)
Julian Treasure (TEDGlobal 2013)
Short, practical talk on voice, pace and habits that make people stop listening
Practise
Keep handy
Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).