At professional conferences, Q&A is an important portion of many presentations. I’ve spoken at conferences where it was mandatory to save time for questions from the audience, and the allotted time can be anywhere from five minutes to sometimes even 30 minutes. However, it should not be the final element of your speech. I repeat: It should not be the final element of your speech. You, the presenter, must have the final word for a strong memorable closing. Therefore, after the last main point, provide a transition to open the floor for questions, repeat each question asked so everyone in the room can hear and understand it, answer the question truthfully and to your best ability, watch the time, say you have time for one final question, and after the last question, close with your final planned remarks. What’s the last idea you want floating around in their minds as they leave? You get to decide that–and it’s not typically some random question someone in your audience has asked. It should be your closing clincher.
- Complete your last main point
- Provide a transition to open the floor for questions
- Repeat each question
- Answer the question truthfully and to your best ability
- Watch the time
- Tell them you have time for one final question
- Answer it, and close with your final prepared remarks
