How to maintain control of the room in a question-and-answer (Q&A) session?

Q&A can go awry easily! Here’re 3 ways to maintain control of the room:

1. Trust your allies. If an audience member dominates the interactions, eg. a ‘know it all’, give them the attention they want and then assertively move on. More than often, the rest of the audience gets what you’re doing and become your ally to keep the Q&A a collaborative experience. And you maintain control of the room.
2. The best way to gain the upper hand of a chatterbox is not to “out talk” them. Simply look their way – with interested concern – and keep silent. This is again your allies will help because they’ll likely follow your “line of vision” to look at that person while staying silent.
3. You don’t have to have all the answers! Be honest when you don’t and share how you’ll follow up: talk afterwards, email communication, etc. You don’t want to lose credibility creating an answer you simply don’t have – “faking it” is not the way to control the room when you are the presenter.

SEE ALSO:

How best to end a Q&A session?

How can question-and-answer (Q&A) sessions add value?

How to handle power dynamics when other panelists hold more power?

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