Many presenters dread audience questions or try to avoid them. However, allowing your audience to ask questions, whether during, at the end or at specific intervals during your presentation will assist in keeping them engaged in what it is that you have discussed. It also provides you with valuable feedback about the presentation content. Answering questions from the audience can improve your presentation and make you look more credible. The below article provides you with good guidelines for handling questions after a presentation.



Guide for Handling Questions after a Presentation

Here are some of the highlights from the article:

•    Acknowledge the person asking the question and the question being asked (e.g. “Thank you for asking that question, I am glad you asked it”).
•    Listen to the whole question, do not interrupt, or allow anyone else to interrupt the person asking the question. If you are not sure about the question, ask for clarification.
•    Understand the context, in other words, check that you understand the question by paraphrasing the question back to the person asking it. This will also ensure clarity.
•    Once you have heard the question, pause for a few seconds (literally) and reflect to allow yourself time to value the question and think of a suitable response.
•    Involve the whole audience when repeating and responding to the question. Do not let it be a dialogue between you and the person posing the question.
•    Respond concisely and check your audience if your answer is satisfactory. You can do this by looking at your audience’s body language.
•    Consider having rounds of questions, take 3 to 5 questions at a time and answer them before going on to more questions
•    If time allows, allow follow-up questions. Alternatively, afford your audience the opportunity to send follow up questions to you via email.


This section provided you with guidelines and tips on how to rehearse and conduct your presentation. You know have all the resources to effectively create and present a PowerPoint presentation.


Last modified: Monday, 30 October 2023, 3:01 PM