"WikiLearn - Speaker Series Guidebook - html: Text"
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"<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever attended a talk where the speaker talked past their scheduled time leaving no time for Q&A? Our guess is that you have because it’s a common occurrence</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">1</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Leaving time for the Q&A and properly preparing for it not only gives you a moment to interact with the people who came to listen to you speak, but also shows them that you respect them and what they have to say.</span></p>
<p><strong>Before the Q&A</strong></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prepare for the Q&A in advance</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by anticipating questions that the audience might have. Thinking of the questions your audience may ask can also help you decide the content to include in your talk</span></li>
<li>Pr<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">actice your talk</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> so that you finish on time and leave enough time for the Q&A</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>During the Q&A</strong></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repeat and read out audience members’ questions</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> before you answer them. This helps other listeners understand what the question was and also gives you time to think of an answer</span></li>
<li>Use the Q&A to <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reinforce your main points. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Refer back to your points when appropriate</span></li>
<li>Keep your answers <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clear and brief</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Try not to sound like you are defending yourself and try not to ramble</span></li>
<li>If you receive a question that you prefer not to answer, just say, “I prefer not to answer this question”</li>
<li>If you don’t know the answer, first, <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">admit that you don’t know. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t lie, don’t pretend you know, don’t ramble on and talk around the question. After admitting that, there are several next steps you can take:</span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li>Ask them to clarify the question. Maybe a rephrasing of the question will help you understand what is being asked</li>
<li>Ask your audience if they know the answer and encourage a dialogue after your session</li>
<li>Share what you do know that is similar or comparable</li>
<li>Take note of the person’s contact information and say you will get back to them after you’ve done some research. And do follow up!</li>
</ul>
<li>Don’t let a single person dominate <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Q&A. Encourage people who don’t often ask questions to do so</span></li>
<li>When a question seems <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">off-topic</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, say, “Thanks for the question. It is off-topic but I’m happy to talk about it after”</span></li>
<li>If you are asked a question that requires some prior knowledge, <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">don’t assume</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> everyone has the same background knowledge and make sure to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">provide context </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">before answering</span></li>
<li>Anticipate questions. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Try to embed their answers into your talk where possible</span></li>
<li>Be respectful <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of people’s questions, even if they seem obvious or repetitive to you. Graciously answer the question</span></li>
<li>What if no one asks a question? <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are a few actions you might take:</span></li>
<ul style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li>End the session early. Thank your audience for coming and share with them how to contact you after</li>
<li>Collect questions from colleagues and friends prior to the session and answer those questions during the Q&A</li>
<li>Bring questions that you prepared prior to the session and answer those during the Q&A</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p><strong>Reflection</strong></p>
<p>What questions do you think your audience might ask you?</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Montserrat,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p>"
