Part Twelve: Your Twelfth Strategy on How to Give a Presentation

“How to give a presentation” Tip 12: Don’t end with Q/A

Your last three blogs have highlighted how to do a knockout conclusion. You’ve summarized, stated your call to action, and have empowered your audience. You’re pumped, they’re thrilled, and the energy in the room is high.

Now you want to take questions? NO!!!!! Don’t do it! Don’t do what everyone else does at the end of a speech!

Think about it – Q/A sends the energy to the room, away from you. People immediately start to move around, pack up, talk, laugh, and LEAVE. NOT a great way to finish.

So – place your Q/A section just before you conclude. Here’s how you make this happen:

• Say, “Before I conclude we have 5 minutes for questions.”
• Or, say, “Before I conclude I can answer three questions”
• Or, say, “Before I conclude, does anyone have a question?”

You have to say, “BEFORE I CONCLUDE…”. Otherwise your group will think you’re done and they’ll revert to their move around, talk, walk, and leave routine.

Next week look for some great rules about how to answer questions.

Stay tuned to a few more blogs in this series on how to give a presentation and what to do next.

Karen Cortell Reisman, M.S., author of 3 books and President of Speak For Yourself®, works with organizations and executives on how to communicate to make more money. It’s all in how you speak for yourself. Read more at www.SpeakForYourself.com/blog/