Dealing with questions

At the end of your talk, you may get questions. You don't have to answer all the questions - they may not be good questions!

If it is a good question, thank the person and answer it.

Some of the questions may be irrelevant and not connected to what you want to say. Say so and get another question.

Some may be unnecessary because you have already given the answer. Repeat the answer briefly and get the next question.

And some may be difficult because you don't have the information. Again, say so and offer to find the information or ask the person asking the question what they think.

When you get a question, comment on it first. This will give you time to think. Here are some useful expressions to help you do that:

- That's a very interesting question.

- I'm glad you've asked that question.

- A good question.

- I'm sorry but I don't have that information to hand.

- Can I get back to you about that?

- I'm afraid I can't answer that.

- I'm not in a position to comment on that.

- As I said earlier, …

- I think I answered that when I said …

- I did mention that.

- I don't see the connection.

- I'm sorry, I don’t follow you.

- I think that is a very different issue.

Here are some useful expressions for when you are making a presentation or talk, perhaps in a meeting or in a congress or perhaps more informally in a discussion around the coffee machine. Or, if you work at Google, over the table football or going down the slide

Are there any questions? = That is all I have to say. Are there any questions?

That’s a good question. = This is a good way of giving yourself time to think. That’s a good question. Let me think about it for a moment.

As I said earlier,..…. = As I said earlier, we are looking at several different solutions.

I’m afraid I can’t answer that. = I’m afraid I can’t answer that. That information is still confidential.

I’m afraid I don’t know. = That’s a good question. I’m afraid I don’t know the answer. We are still investigating.

I’m not in a position to answer that. = This is a great way of ‘blocking’ questions. I’m not in a position to answer that. You will have to ask Peter about that.

Here are some ways of dealing with questions when you are the SPEAKER:

When you don't want to answer: To be honest, I'm not really the person to ask about that.

When someone interrupts you: Sorry, could I just finish?

When you finally understand what they want to know: Oh I see. So what you are asking is …

When you realise they don't understand what you said: Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. What I was trying to say was …

If you don't want to tell everyone: Perhaps we can talk about it when I have finished.

To close off the presentation: If there are no more questions, we should stop there.

Here are some ways of getting an answer when you are the QUESTIONER:

When the answer doesn't give you the information you want: Yes, that may be so, but what I want to know is …

When the answer is evasive: Yes, but you still haven't answered my question.

If you are sceptical and want more detail: Well, I'm not so sure. Can you give us an example to illustrate that?

If you don't agree: That may be so, but I still think...