The most significant difference between speaking to an audience and speaking to one person is that the speech is essentially one-way communication - the speaker speaks and the audience listens. At the same time, sometimes the audience does become involved in the discussion - this can be involvement that the speaker invites (for example when he asks "are there any questions?") or is forced upon him (when people in the audience burst out without permission) but either way involvement from the audience is a common thing, especially in Israel, and anyone who wants to speak in front of an audience should know how to deal with it.
Continued episodes: Questions and stage fright — How to manage interruptions — How to answer when you don't know
How to control the timing of the questions?
It is important to use questions from the audience to promote the speech, your self-confidence and your standing in front of the audience. For this it is important to control the timing of the questions and answer them only at a time that is convenient for you. There is a very simple rule about when to answer questions:
The golden rule: questions are answered between arguments
- It bothers you less
Because you don't stop in the middle of a sentence, and also because you don't need to remember where in the speech to go back after the answer. - It is less disturbing to the audience
The audience will not always remember where you left off, and they will not always return to the sequence - Because it emphasizes your structure
In fact, the questions become 'milestones' and sharpen the transition from argument to argument - Because that closes the argument
This helps ensure that the audience has understood the argument, that there are no holes in the logic, and that you have not left any point unclear. - It projects control and organization
This emphasizes that you take questions when it's convenient for you and not when someone in the audience feels like it
Several sub-rules also derive from this rule
- Don't take questions at the opening –
This is the most sensitive stage in the speech, where people have to absorb the general structure of the speech. Disruptions at this stage will prevent the audience from seeing the big picture. And besides - what else do they have to ask? You haven't even started yet... - Do not accept questions in the summary –
This is also a very sensitive stage, because in it you have to reorganize the entire speech and help people understand what was in it. There is also a risk that if you are asked a question that you do not have an answer to, you will not have time left to 'text' your lack of knowledge. And finally - now you remember to ask? - Do not accept a question before you have finished answering the previous question
It radiates a lack of control (because the one who determines the timing of the questions is the questioner and not you), it may take you out of concentration and it certainly takes the audience out of concentration in your argument (even though it raises the general attention of the audience)
How to answer questions?
- politely
If you want audience involvement it is important to show respect to the questions. This will encourage others to ask politely and not lash out, it shows your respect for the audience. - Regarding
Dodges look bad. If you don't have a good answer, it's always better to say "I'll have to look into it and get back to you." - in short (or at least without getting carried away)
If your message is important, then you should stick to it and not skim. Speakers are often distracted by questions, lose their train of thought or drift into topics they did not intend to talk about
Continued episodes: Questions and stage fright — How to manage interruptions — How to answer when you don't know