How do you handle unexpected questions during a speech?

To answer unexpected questions, it is essential to get the actual motive of a question. Unexpected questions in subtext usually have a deeper reason for why they're asked. You are speaking on clothing and grooming and how appearance creates perception, which has an impact on the situation and overall Success. You will have people in agreement but you will get a question "I do not believe this to be true. It is the inside that matters. Clothes are just superficial". Most likely this question comes from age old beliefs - the soul needs to be beautiful, the body is just the outer layer or this person feels they do not know how to dress or equate this to fashion. It is important to get the trigger of the question to answer it better.

Being transparent never hurts... you could start with "Wow, that's a great question" while you formulate your next thought. My go-to mode is always to ask questions to draw out more information to allow the response to take shape in my mind. I guess you can't make yourself be good at thinking on your feet, but buying a little time never hurts; and more than that, honestly inquiring in return to draw out more information and give everyone plenty to think about has always proven a useful and beneficial technique for me.

Handling unexpected questions during a speech requires quick thinking and composure. The key is to remain calm, even if you feel caught off guard. Take a moment to listen carefully, ensuring you understand it fully. Acknowledge the questioner, and consider repeating or paraphrasing the question to ensure clarity. Stay focused on the topic when answering, providing a clear response that addresses the question directly. If you're unsure of the answer, it's okay to admit it and offer to follow up later with more information. By maintaining control of the conversation, staying transparent, and responding diplomatically, you can effectively navigate unexpected questions while maintaining your credibility and professionalism as a speaker.

Listen. Take in the question. If you have the answer by all means answer. If you don't know it, don't act as if you do. Honesty will get you much further than B.S. You aren't a computer you don't have all the answers, neither does Sway. Stay calm, be transparent, all will be well.

Stay calm and repeat the question back to them for clarification. If you are unable to answer properly, tell them so and find out later on. I was in corporate sales for 20 years and it’s not a crime not to have all of the answers.

Unexpected questions are the norm in a speech. If the question's off topic, then address that. "That's a good question but not why we're here today. My contact info is at the end slide; please e-mail me and we can chat on that." More importantly is the question: can you answer the question? If the question can be answered, then by all means do so. If not, then admit it. People will respect you more if you admit not knowing than if you make crap up. Then if there's something related that you DO know something about, speak on that.

1. Stay composed and listen attentively to the question. 2. Take a moment to gather your thoughts before responding. 3. Repeat or paraphrase the question to ensure understanding. 4. Be honest if you don't know the answer and offer to follow up later. 5. Address the question respectfully and concisely while staying on topic.

1-Listen to the question attentively. 2- Try to understand the context of the question, 3-Get clarity on the question by asking questions or telling what you understand about the question 4-Give the relevant answer based on your expertise. 5-Try to use a scenario or example relevant to the audience 6-If you don't know the answer then you may tell the person honestly that the question is not relevant to your expertise and then exemplify the answer according to your area of expertise and let the person understand the answer to the question on his own. 7-Never try to be perfect and super smart and pretender as you are a person who knows everything.

Maintain your composure. Take a deep breath and don’t rush to respond. Staying calm will help you think clearly and convey confidence to your audience.

Estrutura de oratória: veja o lado humano, esteja ali pelo assunto e não para massagear seu ego. Solte o controle. Se prepare para a palestra, mas não queira que seja tudo perfeito, do seu jeito. Comunidades interagem e é natural ser pego de surpresa. Se houver confiança necessária para desenvolver um debate saudável para o assunto, ou até mesmo para devolver a pergunta e pedir opinião do questionador, você se sairá bem.

In case of a difficult question, it is useful to not just listen to the question carefully but to reformulate the question in your own words to check that you have understood exactly what the person is asking. This is not just to buy yourself time to think on your feet but to ensure that you do not provide a misaligned answer.

Give the questioner your full attention. Listening carefully not only shows respect but also ensures you understand the question completely before responding.

Don't just listen fully—listen extra. Confirm the question and ask clarifying questions if necessary ("As related to X or to Y?"). This will (1) demonstrate respect and consideration, (2) ensure you answer it in a targeted way, and (3) give you a little more time to conceive your answer.

take everything with the flow, try to redirect the question to the topic you are discussing. this shows you are listening, but keeps the conversation on track

If it is possible, repeating back the question in your own words not only shows you are listening, but can highlight misunderstandings from both viewpoints.

The same as any Republican. Talk a lot and never answer directly the question. Gives you time to think. It is really that simple.

It is absolutely ok to ask the question again. Before answering any question, we should understand the question asked. Otherwise, Wrong answer can be a question to our competency. Listen carefully before you reply otherwise it can mislead and create confusion.

Listening fully is indeed crucial when faced with unexpected questions during a speech. It allows you to understand the questioner's perspective and formulate a thoughtful response. Additionally, staying calm and composed helps maintain credibility and authority as a speaker. Finally, being prepared to admit when you don't have an immediate answer and offering to follow up afterward demonstrates honesty and integrity.

Listening fully before responding is more than just a courtesy; it's a critical component of effective communication. Jumping to conclusions or preparing a response too early can cloud your understanding, as you might miss subtleties or key points of the question. By fully engaging with the questioners until they've finished, you not only capture the complete message but also the emotion and emphasis behind it, which are often as telling as the words themselves. This approach not only minimizes the risk of misunderstandings but also enhances the depth and relevance of your response, showing that you value the dialogue and are committed to a meaningful exchange.

It is absolutely alright to take a little time to think before answering the question. The audience is probably also processing the answer. It is a mistake to rush into answering to fill all small silences. It also shows consideration if you take a moment to think about your answer.

Validate the question by acknowledging it. You can say something like, “That’s an interesting question,” or “I’m glad you brought that up.”

You can also acknowledge it in less generic and less trite ways like: "That's a reasonable response. My point is..." "I hear you and understand where you're coming from. My point is..." "That's a valid point, and I'm glad you raised it. But to me, the biggest issue is..." Notice how you're pivoting back to your point (your job as a speaker), not debating theirs (not your job as a speaker). You're there to speak, intrigue, and inspire, not to debate.

Never forget that it is only one person who asked, and all the others are probably happy with a short pause to process the question themselves. Then you might begin by rephrasing the question in your terms: this has two positive outcomes, as it will give your brain a few more seconds to elaborate an answer, but also an opportunity to slightly reframe the question in a way that is more manageable for you. It's not to manipulate the conversation, but to keep it in focus.

My acknowledgement depends entirely on the question asked of me, I have no "stock," or "canned," approach. If I genuinely can't answer the question I admit it!

Acknowledge the question, sayiny it is a good one or if it is not applicable .note it and answer it at the eend of the speech if time allows

One thing I have found helpful is to stay true to the context of my speech for the day. If I get questions from the context of the day, I will try to answer them. But if it’s outside the scope then, I will acknowledge it and give room for feedback when I have gathered full answer.

One technique is to start formulating an answer and check if that answers the question. Turning the answer into a dialogue with the questioner can be a useful strategy as it is likely that the person has a special interest in what they are asking you and can add some useful information and help formulate a response collaboratively.

f you need a moment to think, it’s okay to buy some time. You can repeat the question or say, “Let me think about that for a second.”

To answer this question, it seems to me that two elements are important, one of them is honesty; that is, to keep in mind that what is transmitted should be truthful, not invent or lie in order to get out of the problem or with the desire merely to respond; on the other hand, it is relevant to know what information and knowledge we have, when you hear an unexpected question, you have an idea whether or not you are able to answer it; In case we can't find a possible clear answer, the best thing to do is to put it this way as it is, that we do not have the elements to answer this question and therefore we are going to meditate or collect data to give a solution later.

If I don't understand the question I admit it... it's called respect! If I can't answer a question I'll say so, politely, respectfully! Most often there's some part of a question, or, something implied by the question that I can at least comment on.

Buying time is also one of the skills. We are always in a hurry to reply. So, when we buy time, we get time to think, our brain gets a pause to think, and we are always spot on for the topic.

Organize your thoughts quickly. Aim to provide a concise and structured response. If you don’t know the answer, it’s better to be honest and offer to find out after the speech.

Au préalable, il faut dire que lorsqu'on prépare une prise de parole, prévoir les questions que nos propos peuvent soulever est un impératif. L'éloquence permettra de l'accueillir avec une posture de verticalité et ouverture. De l'intégrer, sans états d'âme, même si elle baigne dans la provocation ou si dans sa formulation intègre déjà une réponse. La rhétorique permettra de lui fournir une ossature solide qui atteste de l'appréciation de la question, qui apporte des arguments pour la fonder, qui anticipe les objections. Un résumé n'est pas nécessaire si le phrasé et les mots choisis ont su tisser leur trame dans la concision, la précision et la clarté.

I've been a broadcast journalist all my adult life so interacting verbally isn't something I have to think about, other than to do my best to respect the person with whom I'm having the conversation.

A structured response is definately the best way to reply. I would agree that an irrational and a vague response will make your audience lose interest. So stay calm and formulate a response in a structured way.

If you do not know the answer to a question, talk about what you DO know. Take the conversation up an altitude to include the audience. For example, if someone asks how AI will effect x industry and you don't know, pivot! Talk about a bigger issue you DO know about.

Here is where KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE (KYA) comes in super handy. As an effective & impactful presenter, NEVER walk into a situation where you are CLUELESS about your audience. KYA helps you ANTICIPATE the unanticipated questions so you invest time & effort to prepare the right responses. With KYA, you know HOW to WARM UP to them & then build that CONNECTION with them. During your speech delivery, you must keep your EYES and EARS alert. Watch their demeanor & body language & make eye contact. You ACTIVELY LISTEN to what that is not heard in the room. So when unexpected questions pop up, you would have gathered sufficient knowledge of where the audience is coming from. This would help you craft your response in the form of a DIALOGUE with them.

If you do a good job with your talk it’s likely your audience will want to know more and, they will enjoy that opportunity to communicate directly with you. As a speaker, your role is to give your audience an experience that justifies their investment of time and attention. You should know your topic inside out and work at predicting questions. In your practice dry runs of your talk, ask those who are helping you to think up questions…learn to deal with great questions and awkward questions. Paraphrasing the question guys you time to gather your thoughts. If you are asked a relevant question that requires data that you don’t have to hand, be confident agreeing to send them all the details after the talk.

If the confrontational question is outside your point and expertise, it is fair to say, "I'm not the right person to address that but see me later, and I'll see if I can connect you to the right person." Otherwise, realize that your job is to reinforce your point, not debate theirs. Even if you can argue their point and tear it to shreds, you've just spent valuable time on their point, not on your point. So recognize the steps: 1) Listen 2) Acknowledge their point ("I hear you.") 3) Reinforce your point ("I believe that XYZ.")

In addition to the tactics listed, it’s ok to say you don’t know the answer but will follow up and get back to the person with the answer. In my experience this builds trust with your audience and shows that you are being genuine in your responses rather than trying to make something up on the spot or avoiding the question.

We start with the scenarios and the circumstances, then move the question in another way, discuss the past experience and moral lessons and if we can answer easily we conclude the answer in the end

Handling unexpected questions during a speech can be challenging, but with preparation and practice, you can effectively manage them. 👉If you don't know the answer, it's okay to admit it. You can offer to follow up with the person after the speech or suggest where they might find the information. Use the question as an opportunity to reinforce key points from your speech. Connect your response to the overall message you want to convey. 👉Engage with the person who asked the question and maintain eye contact. This demonstrates that you are attentive and respectful. By practicing handling unexpected questions, you can become more confident and effective in managing Q&A sessions during your speeches rehearsals.