Speaking: Public Speaking & Presentations B2 - Lesson 6: Handling Audience Questions
Welcome to our final lesson! The question and answer (Q&A1) session is not the end of your presentation; it's a vital part of it. Handling questions well shows your expertise and confidence. While it can be nerve-wracking because it's unscripted, this lesson will give you a clear strategy to manage any question with professionalism and grace.
The L-A-C-E Method: A Strategy for Every Question
This simple four-step method will help you handle any question calmly and effectively.
The L-A-C-E Method:
- L - Listen:
- Listen carefully to the entire question without interrupting. Don't plan your answer yet. Focus on what the person is *really* asking.
- A - Acknowledge:
- Acknowledge the questioner and the question. This is polite and gives you a moment to think.
- "That's a great question." / "Thank you for bringing that up."
- C - Clarify2 (If Necessary):
- If a question is long, complex, or unclear, rephrase it to confirm your understanding.
- "So, if I understand correctly, you're asking about... Is that right?"
- E - Execute Your Answer:
- Answer the question clearly and concisely. If it's a complex topic, use a simple structure for your answer (e.g., "There are two main reasons for that. First...").
Dealing with Difficult Questions
Not all questions are simple. Here are strategies for tough situations.
- The Question You Don't Know the Answer To:
Never guess or lie. It's better to be honest.
"That's an excellent question. I don't have that specific data with me, but I'd be happy to find out and get back to you." - The Aggressive or Hostile Question:
Stay calm and professional. Don't get emotional or defensive. Acknowledge their feeling, then answer the question's logic.
"I understand your concern about this issue. The way we plan to address that is by..." - The Off-Topic Question:
Politely defer3 the question to keep your presentation on track.
"That's a really interesting topic, but it falls a bit outside the scope of today's presentation. Perhaps we could discuss it one-on-one afterwards."
Scenario: A Post-Presentation Q&A
Listen to a presenter, Soriya, as she confidently handles different types of questions after her talk on a new company policy.
Audience Member 1: "Thank you. That was very clear. Can you tell me when exactly this new policy will take effect?"
Soriya: "Thank you for asking. (Acknowledge) The new policy will officially be implemented at the start of the next quarter, on July 1st." (Execute)
Audience Member 2: "I don't agree with this policy at all! It seems like it will create more work for my team without any real benefit. Why didn't you consult us?"
Soriya: "I understand your concern about the potential for increased workload. (Acknowledge) The goal is actually to make things more efficient in the long run. To address your point about consultation, we plan to hold departmental workshops next week to tailor the implementation for each team." (Execute)
Audience Member 3: "What is the budget for the end-of-year party?"
Soriya: "(Smiles) That's a question I know we're all interested in! It's a bit off-topic for this meeting, but I'd be happy to direct you to the HR department for details. For now, are there any more questions about the new work policy?" (Defer)
Managing the Q&A Session Like a Pro
1. Announce the Q&A: Tell your audience at the beginning when you will take questions (e.g., "There will be time for questions at the end.").
2. Repeat the Question: Especially in a larger room, repeat the question so everyone can hear it. "So, the question was about the timeline..." This also gives you an extra moment to think.
3. Keep Answers Concise4: Answer the question that was asked, and then stop speaking. Avoid the temptation to start a new presentation.
4. End Decisively: When you are out of time, or there are no more questions, end the session clearly. "It looks like that's all the time we have for questions. Thank you for your participation."
Practice Quiz: Best Response Check
Read the situation and choose the best response.
1. An audience member asks a very long, multi-part question, and you are not sure you understood it all. What should you do?
A) Answer the one part you understood.
B) Say, "That's a great question. So, if I can just rephrase5 to make sure I understand, you're primarily asking about X. Is that right?"
C) Tell them the question is too complicated.
→ Answer: B. Clarifying is the most professional strategy. It ensures you answer the right question and gives you time to structure your thoughts.
2. After your presentation, someone asks, "What do you think will happen in the market in the next ten years?" This is a huge, speculative question. What's a good way to begin your answer?
A) "I don't know."
B) "That's a very big question! Of course, no one can say for sure, but one major trend I see is..."
C) Start listing every possible thing that could happen.
→ Answer: B. It acknowledges the difficulty of the question ("That's a very big question!") and frames the answer as an opinion/prediction ("one major trend I see"), not a statement of fact.
Your Mission: The "Hot Seat" Challenge
Your mission is to practice handling questions in a safe, controlled environment.
- Prepare a very short (1-minute) presentation on a topic you know well.
- Ask a friend to act as your audience. Their job is to ask you 2-3 questions after you finish.
- Instruct your friend to ask different types of questions: one that is simple, one that is challenging or aggressive, and one that you probably don't know the answer to.
- Your goal is to practice the L-A-C-E method and the strategies for difficult questions. Focus on how you *handle* the question (listening, acknowledging, staying calm) more than on having a "perfect" answer.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Q&A: (Noun) - វគ្គសំណួរ-ចម្លើយ - An abbreviation for "Question and Answer," referring to the part of an event where the audience can ask questions. ↩
- To Clarify: (Verb) - បញ្ជាក់ - To make something less confusing and easier to understand. ↩
- To Defer: (Verb) - ពន្យារពេល - To put something off until a later time; to postpone. ↩
- Concise: (Adjective) - សង្ខេប - Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words. ↩
- To Rephrase: (Verb) - និយាយឡើងវិញ - To express an idea in a different way, often for clarification. ↩