When there are questions, it is not the time to feel the terror of being trapped. We got some tips on how to deal with them. Before answering always stand facing your audience then repeat the question clearly and audibly. It is important that it is possible for everyone to take part in the exchange of ideas and opinions.
Therefore you want to make sure that everyone knows what you are replying to and it also gives your brain some time to work on the answer. Never focus solely on the person who raised the question. Instead, answer to everybody, reach out to the whole audience with your answer, advices us the management-issues.com website.
Take some oxygen before you answer
Never let yourself feel ambushed, breathe deeply. With each next breath you get more oxygen which makes it easier for your brain to focus and formulate a great answer for the question raised.
Summarize the question aloud
If you decide to summarize an especially long or complicated question before answering it or explaining your opinion, always check with the questioner whether you have summarized it correctly. Perhaps you have omitted certain part of the question, or there were some conditions mentioned in it you have skipped. Do not just make assumptions. Always ask for confirmation from the original questioner.
Ask for clarification
It may happen that you didn’t catch the question, than try to repeat the question in your own words and make sure you understand clearly what the questioner means.
All questions need to be answered
No matter who asks the question, always remain calm and courteous. It is very dangerous to ignore a question that you consider not to be pertinent. When there is an off-topic question or one that seems to be deliberately obtuse, here is the solution: fire a brief answer and then move on.
-jk-