How do you handle unexpected questions or interruptions during a speech?

Sometimes interruptions can be very efficiently used, if the interruption is not just attention seeking. Valid questions or comments in the middle of a speech can contribute to the whole issue and present a scope for clarification. Patient hearing and polite response is vital, as any negative response may antagonize the whole audience. A skilled speaker can always manoeuvre back to the line of reasoning and integrate the interruption within the frame. The difficulty lies in calmly tackling deliberate and discordant disruptions aimed at throwing off the speaker or to insult the speaker. Using humour is a good way to deal with such. The speaker must not, at any provocation, lose control.

If you’re following a script, like a PowerPoint, an interruption can be annoying. I follow the adage that being prepared for interruptions can be a confidence builder. By studying and practicing, non-linear thinking (what is that?), the subject matter can be synthesized to where you, as the presenter can pivot your talk and planned action based on your observation of how relevant the interruption is to the subject. Is it a good question? Or a nuisance distraction? Turn a distraction into something that is useful and possibly engaging.

There are many ways to address these issues, but let me start by differentiating between being asked unexpected questions and being interrupted. When asked an unexpected question, it's important to pay attention to the question to understand exactly what the other person wants to know. If you have the answer, simply provide it; this is the easiest and simplest way. If not, there is no shame in saying, "I need to check on that and get back to you." Regarding being interrupted, it depends on who is interrupting and why. However, my best practice is to continue talking and maintain eye contact with the person you were initially speaking to. This signals to the interrupter that you are not finished speaking and that they should wait.

I usually handle interruptions with a smile. The question may be important and/or relevant (for that specific moment). Usually, I specify at the beginning of a talk whether I encourage interruptions, or prefer to address questions during the designated Q & A session (after I have navigated through my speech). Regardless, I welcome interruptions and questions with a smile.

Rester calme c’est la base. Regarder franchement la personne qui vous a interrompu et ne pas l’ignorer. L’ignorer lui donnerait l’occasion de vous interrompre pour attirer une nouvelle fois votre attention et celle de votre public. On reste donc maître de soi et de ses émotions. Je vous invite aussi à la regarder avec bienveillance et lui sourire. Vous lui indiquez par cette communication non verbale qu’elle a votre attention et que vous lui accordez de l’importance. Vous avez la possibilité de répondre de suite ou lui dire que vous répondrez plus tard. C’est vous qui avez le pouvoir.

Distractions, such as environmental noises, can break the state of the audience, especially if you are trying to make a critical point. But, when navigated professionally and appropriately, a skilled speaker can use these situations to strengthen credibility and deepen rapport. The audience understands what is happening and they are looking to you for guidance in how you are responding to the situation. A cool head, fast thinking, and advance preparation can help you overcome most distractions and demonstrate your expertise as a professional speaker.

Here is exactly what to say when someone interrupts your speech. I am working. Be courteous. I do not come by your work and knock the roosters out of your mouth while you are working. So don't interrupt my work please. Except I use another word synonymous with roosters. Shuts the offender up quickly. Also gets a laugh.

Depending on how loud or obnoxious the person it will throw you off a bit. The Key is to keep the flow going and don't freeze. Look directly at them, if the question or interruption is within the topic of conversation, simply state " that's a great question/ comment" would it be OK with you if I finished up with my thoughts and then address yours directly? I think you may have a point I just want to give it the thought it deserves and it would not be helpful to give you an off the cuff answer. Would that work for you?" This way you actually address the person their outburst and can keep the rest of the audience thinking of what you are speaking about while being able to go back to the question or comment from the other person

Trying to find a way to connect the question with the mane topic if possible is always a good idea. With this method avoid having a wrong impact to the conversation.

"Only good listeners can be great speakers" - Manas! I just made it up. But it is true. Only when you listen to the comment or to the question, you will exactly know how to respond. You don't just listen to words you. Listen to body language. You listen to temperament, you listen to the aura and the presence in the room. A great public speaker is not just aware of what is being spoken, but also the unspoken.

I listen carefully and try to answer the question if it could be answered based on my expertise Or else confirm the audience to provide answer after consultation with an expert.Never attempt for 'beating around the bush'

A very smart person once taught me the concept of “seek first to understand”. Since then, this sentence accompany me while public speaking, managing people or just, you know- going through life. The power of truly listen and understanding what people are saying first goes a long way- for them and for you.

Interruptions can be ammunition to excel. Hear behind the behaviour. Does the person need status, certainty, to feel included or something else? Maybe it's a language challenge or brain difference. Give them what they need. If the question relates to what's coming, compliment the asker. E.g "What a sharp question. That part is coming up in a moment. Do you mind if I hold your question until then?" If it's a challenge to something from before, take it humbly and answer. If pressed further you can say something like, "It seems I may not have explained that sufficiently. Would you like me to go back over it before moving on?" If the majority, and key stakeholders, want you to move on, offer to speak privately at the break to the asker.

Sometimes you can miss what the disruptor is communicating if you lack active listening. Listening to someone talking, no matter how rude one is will show that you are respectful. Being respectful usually attracts other people's respect. A good speaker will listen carefully to the question or comment without losing the mind.

When faced with expected questions or interruptions during a speech, it is important to listen fully to the question or comment being made. After listening, it is important to respond in a calm and composed manner. Address the question or comment directly and provide a clear and concise answer. It is also important to maintain control of the situation by politely redirecting the conversation back to your main points or agenda. You can do this by thanking the individual for their input and then smoothly transitioning back to your prepared material. Overall, handling expected questions or interruptions during a speech requires active listening, clear communication, and maintaining control of the conversation.

Whether the question / comment is clear or unclear, I paraphrase it in order to make sure I have understood in a proper way. It allows the person who interrupted to make sure he has been heared.

It’s very important to understand individuals differences, by analysing and understanding the mindset and the situation of individuals by been calm , allow him or her to learn and accept the challenges then you learn from each other .

I agree and, waiting until you fully understand the question or asking for clarifying examples helps you reach full understanding. I always have an opinion, so I’ll offer that whenever I’m not entirely versed in a topic. I also offer to come back to them with a researched answer if I’m not versed in the topic being sure to cite my sources. Or, I invite someone from the audience with experience/background to offer insight. It’s my favorite part of presentations - getting the audience involved! It always leads to more collaboration and I thrive on this.

“One of the sincerest forms of respect is to really listen to what the other person has to say” - Bryant H. McGill. Just it.

An interruption is always relevant! If it's on-topic, it's likely a question that others in your audience have. If it's off-topic, could even be an audience member showboating, then it's an opportunity for you to demonstrate professionalism and earn the respect of your audience. I witnessed an interruption turned into comedy gold by a speaker only this week. A loud screech from somehere outside the room cut across a key point she was making The speaker could have paused, ignored it and repeated her point. Instead, she paused and made an observation, 'I hope everything is OK. Was that a seagull? A small child? A delegate in distress?' When the laughter died down, she continued her speech. With the audience in the palm of her hand. 😀

If it's a question, assess it quickly for direct relevance - I've had questions which required answers longer than the presentation - and either answer directly or remind the audience you'll have time for Q and A towards the end. Either way give thanks for the question. If the interruption is not relevant it can be used to inject humour - but not at the expense of the person who interrupted, as this can alienate your audience - or tell them you're happy to speak with them afterwards. No matter what, remember to breathe, smile, and radiate calm.

As the main keynote speaker, I once had another speaker slated for a small breakout session later stand up and start responding to an audience member’s question after I had answered it already 🤦♀️. So odd. And she was saying the same things I had said… Out of respect, I let her address the crowd for a bit as she was reinforcing my points, but when she showed no signs of stopping I said “Thank you for helping me drive my point home,” (the funniest thing is that the question was about protagonism and narcissism 😂) “and you could continue the conversation with the audience member at the break if he would like to hear more.” Didn’t want to put her down or publicly embarrass her as she was new to speaking. She apologized afterwards.

This is very sound advice. Sometimes, Colleagues don't adhere to the rules of engagement. I usually use a bit of psychology along these lines. " thank you, that's a very good question and I'm sure it would add value to the discussion". I would surely answer your question along with the other colleagues when I'm done with the presentation.

After listening, you need to make a quick judgement or assessment of the disruption. If the disruption applies to your speech or presentation, you may consider responding accordingly or politely ask that all questions be asked after the speech. However, it can be helpful to tell the audience in advance that you will take questions and comments after the presentation. By so doing, you prevent disruptions.

Address the interruption politely and acknowledge the person who asked the question or made the comment. This shows respect and can help defuse any tension. After acknowledging the interruption, bridge back to your main message. You can say, “That’s an interesting point, and I’ll address it shortly. Let’s first discuss…” This redirects the focus back to your prepared content.

I'll thank them and suggest addressing the topic at the end of the talk. I'll ask the person to repeat the question when it is not clear what they are really asking.

Acknowledge the question or interruption, even if it’s off-topic or unexpected. If the question is relevant to your presentation, answer it succinctly and confidently. If it’s off-topic, you can politely defer addressing it until the end of the presentation. If you don't know the answer to a question, it's okay to admit it. You can offer to follow up later with more information or direct the person to someone who might have the answer.

If the question is off-topic or unrelated,politely direct the conversation back to the speech's main points.unexpected question can provide opportunities to expand on the topic or connect to the audience so thank them for their participation .

If the question or interruption arises from a misunderstanding, you have a problem: you are the speaker because you are supposed to be the main expert in the subject. If you do not manage to explain the topic with clarity, may be you are not so good… or may be you are, but if the audience does not understand, what is your real value? If that happens: listen carefully, keep calmed, asume with elegance that may be you were not being as clear as supposed, and try it again firmly but with humility. Change the rhythm of the speech, change the order, change enough content for the audience to realize you are trying to solve the previous situation. And next time, practice with your team before exposing to an audience!

It is vital to remember that a question is more than likely coming from an authentic place. If the question is trying to drive deeper into the topic than you had planned, you can use it as an opportunity to connect with them after the speech/presentation is over. If the question will be addressed again in your presentation, then you can use that as an opportunity to answer it later.

Providing clarity during your answer will help clarify some issues for you later in the conversation. However, a clear and concise answer will reassure the audience about your expertise, which will elevate you during your speech.

Pay attention to the question or interruption being raised. Repeat or paraphrase the question to ensure that you have understood it correctly. Active listening demonstrates respect for the person asking the question and can help clarify any confusion.

I listen to the interruption. Almost always, a person who interrupts thinks their message is best. Then I tell them I want to give their concern the time and attention it deserves. There will be a space to address concerns and questions, and when that time happens, I implore them to ask away!

Willingness to answer relevant questions can help you to gain the respect of your audience. However, it is up to you to decide at what stage you need to respond without losing track of your talk.

I listen to the interruption. Almost always, a person who interrupts thinks their message is best. Then I tell them I want to give their concern the time and attention it deserves. There will be a space to address concerns and questions, and when that time happens, I implore them to ask away!

Sometimes even the obvious needs to be said. Therefore, every clarification is valid at any time. Be humble and listen to all!

L’intervention extérieure peut permettre de clarifier certains aspects de la présentation; l’incompréhension de l’auditoire découle toujours d’une mauvaise communication de l’intervenant principal

The danger of taking questions or comments during the talk is that you may end up taking more time answering questions and never finish the speech in time. In my experience, when I have a small audience, say less than 40 people, I can allow them to ask questions as we go. But for audience above 40, I tell them in advance to ask questions or comment at the end.

If an interruption is disruptive or inappropriate, politely but firmly redirect the conversation back to the presentation. You can say something like, "That's an interesting point, but let's discuss it further after the presentation."

I usually say, “great question” followed by: “that’s coming in a couple more slides” or “that would be another whole talk”, depending on which of those two responses is true. I don’t mind answering questions if they are relevant to the topic, but if someone is one step ahead of me, I prefer sticking to my outline, for clarity.

In order to control the timing, it happens I say "Given the time allocated for this talk, I propose to take time to answer your question / time on a dedicated one on one at the break afterwards".

In my opinion, preferences vary from person to person. Personally, I prefer addressing questions at the end because it helps maintain focus and prevents distractions during crucial moments of a presentation. However, I've come across people who enjoy and welcome more interactive exchanges throughout. Ultimately, it depends on your personal style and preference.

If the interruption happens at a juncture that aligns with my presented information, I usually say something witty like, “I promise, I didn’t pay him to say that”. Then I move along, thanking the interrupter for their asset, continuing my speech. If the interruption is misaligned with my message, I again say to them I want to give them the time they deserve, but at that moment, out of respect for the aim of the session, I’ll have to circle back to them personally.

Here's what I tell all my speaking clients on this topic: Make a choice in advance and tell them, based on the audience size, the structure of your presentation and your comfort with taking questions. First, you can preempt them by simply saying there will be Q&A time at the end, and you'll want to hear all their questions then. (A positive tone helps!) Second, if someone does ask something and it's not a super quick response on your end, thank them and say you'll be sure to come back to it in the Q&A session. Third, if it's easy to reply, go ahead and do so - but make sure it doesn't derail you! Don't get off track to appease one person; deliver the presentation you're there to do.

The best speaker is the one who knows when to speak and when to stop talking to make room for someone else. You don't have to wait for an interruption to give the other person a voice. Always pause and make room for questions!

Une intervention imprévue ne doit jamais amener à déborder sur le temps imparti d’où la nécessité d’y répondre de manière concise

Il reste aussi possible d utiliser un tableau sur lequel la ou les questions seront notées afin d y répondre en fin de conférence

Whilst an interruption could break your flow, responding to one could be beneficial in informing your audience; reminding them that there are questions at the end or even to maintain control when there is a derogatory remark directed at you, the speaker. Respond respectfully, reminding about the questions, thanking for an informative remark But the last, you need to quickly challenge the derogatory remark and reminding the person that this is not the time to interrupt. Your audience will also thank you for this. They want yo listen to you!

I've always said that no one enjoys being lectured for hours. Allowing audience members to interject and use the information they share is always beneficial, but not everyone is equipped for it. Be prepared to use that information. Be prepared to be interrupted and make that person feel acknowledged, and if they do so respectfully, make them feel appreciated too. Once you learn how to handle these interruptions when speaking to youth you can handle adults with your eyes closed.

Know your subject inside and out with confidence, and you will be able to field most questions without losing a step. Confidence is the secret ingredient… And you gain that by practice and purpose. #GivingCandyToStrangers

Unexpected questions usually can throw the speaker off balance, especially if the answer is not known at the time. So tactfully engaging the situation, will one, help calm your nerves and recieve the answer or get someone else in the audience to answer it. Two, can create an interactive session to salvage the situation

I prefer, even desire interruption. Interrupters are often new to the discussion. They are not complacent because they know that they don’t know. They are the few who say “Wait, WHAT!?”. When presenting I try not to ask, Does everybody agree? I prefer to ask, who does not agree OR who does not understand. People do not like to disagree and often will not unless disagreement is invited.

There are always unexpected situations and questions coming. The best way is to be honest about it. If you can answer it well, go ahead but don't hesitate to add that you will get back on it and possibly you need to give more thought to it. No one is prepared for every question that can be raised. One needs to see it as an opportunity, genuinely engage and see it as a means to grow together.

If a person deliberately tries to pull you down by interrupting, my response is always: Shower them with love. They want to be heard and seen. Compliment their courage to speak, thank them for their question and only answer if it’s relevant for the entire audience. Otherwise, take it offline. “ To respect everyone’s time, let’s discuss this specific matter one to one later. I’m curious to hearing your thoughts” Never defend yourself of go into a discussion! If you don’t feel comfortable with questions during your presentation, frame it at the beginning. “At the end of my presentation there will be time for discussion. Please save your questions and comments until then.” If someone still interrupts you, you can refer to that frame.

I often use humor to defuse tension, build rapport with the audience, and humanize myself. However, keeping the humor relevant, tasteful, and inclusive requires some skills and awareness.

1. Prepare for potential interruptions: Anticipate potential questions or interruptions by preparing for them in advance. Rehearse your presentation with a colleague who can play the role of an audience member asking unexpected questions. 2. Set boundaries: If interruptions become excessive or derail your presentation, don’t be afraid to gently set boundaries. You can say something like, "I appreciate your questions, but let’s make sure we cover all the key points I have prepared for today." 3. Remember, handling unexpected questions or interruptions gracefully is a skill that improves with practice. By staying calm, listening actively, and responding confidently, you can navigate these situations with professionalism and poise.

Try not to forget that speeches, presentations, lectures are human interactions. They are moments of sharing. So, keep them humane.

You can do all of the above, but also if they are rude - act accordingly. Not by being rude, obviously, but firmly pointing them to wait for Q&A session or something else that is provided.

Añadiría que en los espacios donde compartes con alumnos o personas que no están muy comprometidas con el tema o tienen más experiencia aún que el presentador, siempre quieren sobresalir,a veces por experiencia y a veces porque tienen a Google a su lado…yo los he dejado tomar un poco de protagonismo e incluso bromear con que le darás el micrófono y te sentarás, ha funcionado, un poco de humor es lo mejor para las personas que siempre quieren sobresalir 😉

It really depends on what the nature of the interruption is - if it’s someone asking for clarification or more colour on something, absolutely take time to help the audience understand your point. If it’s someone interrupting to disrupt you or the event (it happens), I’d recommend politely asking them to make their point at another time that’s more appropriate. Large events usually have a security protocol for unwanted interruptions, so check with the organiser beforehand if you’re worried!