{"id":8910,"date":"2022-11-29T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/?p=8910"},"modified":"2023-07-27T19:15:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T19:15:31","slug":"question-and-answer-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/question-and-answer-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Q &#038; A &#8211; How To Be A Great Emcee"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AB1VHbyxh-Q\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe quality of your life depends on the quality of your questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Anthony Robbins<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tonyrobbins.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tony Robbins<\/a> is right. Not only can asking questions can help you lead a more interesting life, but questions can also add a lot of value to your dynamic meeting or event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This chapter will teach you how to most effectively handle Q &amp; A sessions, or question and answer sessions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s an important note: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a movement in the event world. It is toward more interactive content and delivery.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Audience members are tired of people talking <\/b><b><i>at<\/i><\/b><b> them. They want to speak <\/b><b><i>with <\/i><\/b><b>them.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a master of ceremonies, you can accommodate this new trend in a way that helps make your next meeting both more meaningful and more memorable. A great way to do this is by opening up a question-and-answer session for your attendees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>See Related:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/preview-and-review-how-to-be-a-great-emcee\/\">Preview (and Review) &#8211; How To Be A Great Emcee<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>There are four types of Question-and-Answer sessions:<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fielding questions from a live audience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Posing questions that were previously submitted<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conducting a one-on-one interview<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leading a panel discussion.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We will talk about each one, but before we get started, I want to let you know that if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s my email: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adam@adamchristing.com<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Try it and see!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to practice what I\u2019m preaching, so if you have any questions that I didn\u2019t cover in this section please feel free to ask me by way of an email. Let\u2019s jump in!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Fielding questions from audience members<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of question-and-answer session serves as another example of why I choose to use a wireless handheld microphone. When a keynote speaker or another presenter is done with his or her presentation, I can go into the audience and encourage people to ask priority questions ahead of time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8912\" src=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Conversation-online-talk-fundamentally-event-moves-forward-briefing-session-above-tips-moderator-carefully-positive-aspect-audience_s-questions-opinion-anonymously.jpg\" alt=\"Conversation online talk fundamentally event moves forward briefing session above tips moderator carefully positive aspect audience's questions opinion anonymously\" width=\"1350\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Conversation-online-talk-fundamentally-event-moves-forward-briefing-session-above-tips-moderator-carefully-positive-aspect-audience_s-questions-opinion-anonymously.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Conversation-online-talk-fundamentally-event-moves-forward-briefing-session-above-tips-moderator-carefully-positive-aspect-audience_s-questions-opinion-anonymously-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Conversation-online-talk-fundamentally-event-moves-forward-briefing-session-above-tips-moderator-carefully-positive-aspect-audience_s-questions-opinion-anonymously-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Conversation-online-talk-fundamentally-event-moves-forward-briefing-session-above-tips-moderator-carefully-positive-aspect-audience_s-questions-opinion-anonymously-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Conversation-online-talk-fundamentally-event-moves-forward-briefing-session-above-tips-moderator-carefully-positive-aspect-audience_s-questions-opinion-anonymously-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please note that in even these challenging situations, like when you have an audience of over 500 people, it may be difficult for <a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/hire-an-mc-for-corporate-events\/\">you alone as emcee<\/a> to accommodate all the questions that can come up. For groups of 150 or more, you may want to have several handheld mics on mic stands positioned throughout the venue or auditorium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>A word of caution:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you choose to set out microphones in different spots throughout the auditorium, make sure they are turned off (if you use wireless microphones, you should be able to control them remotely) until you are ready to open up the floor for questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You could also have your event support staff subtly set them out as a speaker is reaching the end of their presentation. I say this because the last thing you want is to have members of the audience taking to the microphones prematurely and disrupting the program (watch out for those hecklers).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>A point of clarity:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we go much further, I also want to make this clear: you are not the speaker answering the questions in this context. You are simply facilitating the Q &amp; A session. As the event MC, you still need to orchestrate the proceedings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tell your attendees how to submit their questions. Are they putting them in writing or submitting them through their phones? Are they simply raising their hands?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case I\u2019ve been describing to you, you would walk into the audience with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/c992--Handheld_Microphone_Wireless_Systems\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">handheld microphone<\/a>, ask the attendee for their name, and say \u201cHi Jill, what is your question for our speaker, Marianne?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I do not allow the attendee to grab my microphone because I want to keep the proceedings moving. I also pivot irrelevant questions in order for the speaker to deliver maximum insight for the actual session.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8913\" src=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feedback-system-multiple-choice-poll-closing-remarks-stage-managers-irrelevant-question-great-moderator-facilitates-such-questions-strategies-reinforce-unrelated-questions.jpg\" alt=\"Feedback system multiple choice poll closing remarks stage managers irrelevant question great moderator facilitates such questions strategies reinforce unrelated questions\" width=\"1350\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feedback-system-multiple-choice-poll-closing-remarks-stage-managers-irrelevant-question-great-moderator-facilitates-such-questions-strategies-reinforce-unrelated-questions.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feedback-system-multiple-choice-poll-closing-remarks-stage-managers-irrelevant-question-great-moderator-facilitates-such-questions-strategies-reinforce-unrelated-questions-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feedback-system-multiple-choice-poll-closing-remarks-stage-managers-irrelevant-question-great-moderator-facilitates-such-questions-strategies-reinforce-unrelated-questions-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feedback-system-multiple-choice-poll-closing-remarks-stage-managers-irrelevant-question-great-moderator-facilitates-such-questions-strategies-reinforce-unrelated-questions-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feedback-system-multiple-choice-poll-closing-remarks-stage-managers-irrelevant-question-great-moderator-facilitates-such-questions-strategies-reinforce-unrelated-questions-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I also don\u2019t want to allow the guest speaker to go on and on with his or her answer in too much detail, so sometimes I have to interrupt the question, and other times I have to interrupt the speaker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can do this in a polite way by saying something like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI want to make sure we have time to answer a few other questions, Marianne. Let\u2019s go to another person.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important that you have a plan for wrapping up the session, and one way of doing that is to say something like, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOkay, we\u2019re going to have time for one more question. Oh, I see someone on the other side of the room here\u2026what is your name?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This lets the audience know that there is no more time for any additional questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Posing questions that were previously submitted<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can make for a more organized question-and-answer session, but it can also feel a bit less interactive. The key here is to let your audience know ahead of time how and when they can submit questions for the speaker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I like to have these on a monitor or in a stack of 3 x 5 cards, that way I can decide if some of the questions are repeats, or not entertaining and\/or pertinent to the presenter\u2019s expertise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some situations, you can condense two or three questions into one question.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Example:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I might say something like, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMary and I have noticed that among the questions that have been submitted, many of them are asking how a person can be more productive at work but also maintain balance in their personal life.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important thing about posing already submitted questions is to make sure you don\u2019t have a long lag time. Ideally, you want to have questions submitted and available to you for review before you enter into the session.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like all things, when it comes to being an event MC, you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/strategyjourney.com\/create-winning-game-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">have a game plan<\/a> before you start the game, and then execute it when it\u2019s game time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Conducting a one-on-one interview<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this type of Q &amp; A, you can approach the podium or lectern as the speaker concludes her talk and interview her right on the spot. However, a more ideal situation would be to invite her to either end of the stage (left or right), where two stools or chairs are set up in a talk-show style.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8917\" src=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Questions-effectively-audience_s-understanding-thoughtful-question-idea-building-more-digestible-format-system-called-clickers-reserve-specifically-real-time-poll.jpg\" alt=\"Questions effectively audience's understanding thoughtful question idea building more digestible format system called clickers reserve specifically real time poll\" width=\"1350\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Questions-effectively-audience_s-understanding-thoughtful-question-idea-building-more-digestible-format-system-called-clickers-reserve-specifically-real-time-poll.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Questions-effectively-audience_s-understanding-thoughtful-question-idea-building-more-digestible-format-system-called-clickers-reserve-specifically-real-time-poll-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Questions-effectively-audience_s-understanding-thoughtful-question-idea-building-more-digestible-format-system-called-clickers-reserve-specifically-real-time-poll-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Questions-effectively-audience_s-understanding-thoughtful-question-idea-building-more-digestible-format-system-called-clickers-reserve-specifically-real-time-poll-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Questions-effectively-audience_s-understanding-thoughtful-question-idea-building-more-digestible-format-system-called-clickers-reserve-specifically-real-time-poll-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You would then enter into a conversation with this special guest. It\u2019s best if you do not bring a script or multiple papers, as you want it to feel like the audience is listening in on two friends.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Your role as both you and the audience\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you\u2019re having an interesting back-and-forth conversation <a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/hire-funny-keynote-motivational-speakers\/\">with the speaker<\/a>, remember that your role here is to represent the audience, so you want to ask the kinds of questions that are at the forefront of your attendees\u2019 minds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think to yourself, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat do I want to know about this topic? What do I want to know about this speaker? What\u2019s the most burning question that I need to be answered?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be careful that you don\u2019t just give the interviewee softballs. Ask some challenging questions, but keep in mind you never want to ask them a question that\u2019s so difficult it puts them in a bad light.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like in other Q &amp; A sessions, you\u2019re going to want to land this plane, so you might say something like,<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cBefore I ask you my final question, Marianne, I want to ask you this\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By doing so, you let her know you are nearing the end of the segment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Bonus:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/improv-rules\/\">Off the Cuff &#8211; How To Be A Great Emcee<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Leading a panel discussion<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is like a session within the session. There are two ways to approach it:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Number one:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are the moderator of the panel discussion, so <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theeditingco.com\/blog\/10277\/segues-another-technique-for-writing-transitions#:~:text=In%20music%2C%20a%20direction%20to,it%20means%20%E2%80%9Cthere%20follows.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">you must segue<\/a> from the prior speaker or segment into the panel. To do this, you need to introduce each of your guests briefly (in no more than 3 or 4 sentences) to establish their authority and welcome them to the panel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8915\" src=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Prepared-slide-democratizing-discussion-questions-anonymously-sessions-transform-absolute-minimum-neutralize-trouble-deploy-questions-loaded-questions.jpg\" alt=\"Prepared slide democratizing discussion questions anonymously sessions transform absolute minimum neutralize trouble deploy questions loaded questions\" width=\"1350\" height=\"1017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Prepared-slide-democratizing-discussion-questions-anonymously-sessions-transform-absolute-minimum-neutralize-trouble-deploy-questions-loaded-questions.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Prepared-slide-democratizing-discussion-questions-anonymously-sessions-transform-absolute-minimum-neutralize-trouble-deploy-questions-loaded-questions-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Prepared-slide-democratizing-discussion-questions-anonymously-sessions-transform-absolute-minimum-neutralize-trouble-deploy-questions-loaded-questions-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Prepared-slide-democratizing-discussion-questions-anonymously-sessions-transform-absolute-minimum-neutralize-trouble-deploy-questions-loaded-questions-768x579.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then you can ask each person a question and hopefully invite further questions from another audience member. You must be really focused here on three things at the same time:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping all of the panelists involved<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Staying on time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making it continually interesting for the audience<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><b>Number two:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other way you can lead a panel discussion is by <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">introducing<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the moderator, rather than being the moderator yourself. You can either have the moderator introduce the panelists or you can introduce the moderator <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the panelists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is more typical, as <a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/what-is-the-role-of-the-master-of-ceremonies\/\">a master of ceremonies<\/a> may introduce the Senior VP of Sales, who then introduces regional sales managers, et cetera.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, the key is to know the format and execute it properly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Tips for Making Q &amp; A Sessions Sensational<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Let the audience know ahead of time.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want to give the audience that \u201cheads up\u201d that they are going to have the opportunity to pose questions to experts, special guests, company leaders, and so on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Turn good questions into great ones.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes you\u2019ll get a question that is too easy to answer, like a yes or no question. Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMarianne, are you having a good time with us?\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, turn a situation like that into a great question by saying, \u201cMarianne, we\u2019re glad you\u2019re having a good time with us\u2013 has there been one big \u2018aha\u2019 moment that you\u2019ve experienced during our conference so far?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Encourage openness and empowerment.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I mentioned at the top of this chapter, the new trend in meetings is <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.lucidmeetings.com\/blog\/5-steps-to-improving-engagement-in-meetings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deeper engagement<\/a>. As the event MC, you can encourage your guest interviewee to be very transparent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can invite them to share stories of transformation or examples of times they took their own advice that was shared during their keynote presentation and how it led to remarkable growth in their professional or personal life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also set an example by asking a question that relates to something in your own life or work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Meet with interviewees before the event.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s critical to make your guests feel relaxed and at ease. Tell them that they are not addressing the entire audience so much as they are answering your individual questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8918\" src=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Speaking-time-discuss-results-in-depth-controversial-topics-software-package-in-depth-most-presentations-feel-confident-time-limits-time-limit-leverage-anonymity.jpg\" alt=\"Speaking time discuss results in depth controversial topics software package in depth most presentations feel confident time limits time limit leverage anonymity\" width=\"1350\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Speaking-time-discuss-results-in-depth-controversial-topics-software-package-in-depth-most-presentations-feel-confident-time-limits-time-limit-leverage-anonymity.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Speaking-time-discuss-results-in-depth-controversial-topics-software-package-in-depth-most-presentations-feel-confident-time-limits-time-limit-leverage-anonymity-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Speaking-time-discuss-results-in-depth-controversial-topics-software-package-in-depth-most-presentations-feel-confident-time-limits-time-limit-leverage-anonymity-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Speaking-time-discuss-results-in-depth-controversial-topics-software-package-in-depth-most-presentations-feel-confident-time-limits-time-limit-leverage-anonymity-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Speaking-time-discuss-results-in-depth-controversial-topics-software-package-in-depth-most-presentations-feel-confident-time-limits-time-limit-leverage-anonymity-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Q &amp; A session should not feel like another keynote presentation or planned message. It should feel like a live, interactive, spontaneous experience that is shared by the group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Follow your plan but be flexible, too.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have four or five questions in mind that you plan to ask the interviewee, along with some questions you have taken from the audience \u2013 but as we have talked about before, be a good listener. Certain topics may come up that you feel are especially exciting for the audience to explore with your special guest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As long as you keep the event program on schedule, you can take your Q &amp; A session down various trails that can lead to wonderful, enriching moments. But be careful to avoid these five mistakes:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>5 Mistakes To Avoid During A Question and Answer Session<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>1. Don\u2019t let a Q &amp; A time turn into a speaker monologue.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the presenter has given his or her speech, we don\u2019t need another one. We need to have as many questions answered in the most entertaining way possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes you must <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/kat-boogaard\/4-ways-to-interrupt-someone-politely.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gently interrupt<\/a> the guest speaker and say, \u201cI want to make sure we have time for some other questions, Marianne, and here\u2019s one that Tony wants to know the answer to\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Don\u2019t allow one person with a question to dominate the time.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be on the lookout for questioners who want to become speakers or share their personal agenda. This is another reason why I never hand someone my handheld microphone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I point it toward them but keep a tight grip on it \u2013 because if they start going on and on, it might be time for me to take the mic back, wrap up that question, and move on to another attendee\u2019s question.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Don\u2019t let the conversation drift into negative or controversial territory.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a fine line here: You want to encourage transparency \u2013 and even tough questions \u2013 but you never want to lead the audience or guest speaker into areas that are insensitive, divisive, or that could embarrass the organization you\u2019re representing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8914\" src=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Intersperse-questions-new-perspective-presenters-feel-right-tools-absolute-ace-mobile-devices.jpg\" alt=\"Intersperse questions new perspective presents feel right tools absolute ace mobile devices\" width=\"1350\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Intersperse-questions-new-perspective-presenters-feel-right-tools-absolute-ace-mobile-devices.jpg 1350w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Intersperse-questions-new-perspective-presenters-feel-right-tools-absolute-ace-mobile-devices-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Intersperse-questions-new-perspective-presenters-feel-right-tools-absolute-ace-mobile-devices-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Intersperse-questions-new-perspective-presenters-feel-right-tools-absolute-ace-mobile-devices-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Intersperse-questions-new-perspective-presenters-feel-right-tools-absolute-ace-mobile-devices-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/><\/span><b>Follow your gut on odd and inappropriate questions by neutralizing hostile questions posed<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This goes back to one of my cardinal rules: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if in doubt, leave it out.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you notice that certain questions or answers are heading into the danger zone, it\u2019s your responsibility as the MC to lead everyone in a new direction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Don\u2019t let the Q &amp; A session run over time.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oftentimes the speaker will be allotted 45 minutes for their presentation and 15 for a Q &amp; A session. In some cases, they may speak for 60 minutes and think that they still have Q &amp; A time available to them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where chatting with speakers prior to them going onstage can be helpful, simply to remind them of the schedule (and the importance of sticking to it).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be very clear in the way you communicate to them the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/articles\/137582-7-tips-on-how-to-actually-stay-on-schedule-once-for-all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">precise time frame<\/a> they have to work with and confirm that they understand. By getting this agreement <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ahead<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of time, it\u2019s more likely that you\u2019ll end <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Don\u2019t forget to have some questions ready.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s rare, but it\u2019s happened to me: there are times when an audience simply doesn\u2019t have any questions for the speaker. This can happen for a few different reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The speaker did such a fantastic job that all the questions were already answered<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The speaker covered a topic that was not of particular interest to the audience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The audience feels intimidated by the speaker<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frankly, the attendees are just plain bored or tired<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, it\u2019s important to have some of your own questions ready, just in case you need to fill this gap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you think about conducting Q &amp; A sessions, remember that the most important things are engagement, interaction, and keeping the train on the tracks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Keep Reading:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/rehearsals-how-to-be-a-great-emcee\/\">Rehearsals &#8211; How To Be A Great Emcee<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p><em>This is an excerpt from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/\">Adam Christing<\/a>\u2018s forthcoming book, \u201cHow To Be A Great Emcee: The A to Z Guide to Hosting Events\u201d by America\u2019s #1 Master of Ceremonies. Follow along as new chapters get posted to this blog category each week.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cThe quality of your life depends on the quality of your questions.\u201d -Anthony Robbins Tony Robbins is right. Not only can asking questions can help you lead a more interesting life, but questions can also&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8916,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[89],"tags":[181,92,180,178,179],"class_list":{"0":"post-8910","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-how-to-be-a-great-emcee","8":"tag-audience-questions","9":"tag-how-to-be-a-great-emcee","10":"tag-moderator","11":"tag-q-and-a","12":"tag-question-and-answer"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Successfully Moderate A Q&amp;A Session | Adam Christing<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/question-and-answer-session\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Successfully Moderate A Q&amp;A Session | Adam Christing\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cThe quality of your life depends on the quality of your questions.\u201d -Anthony Robbins Tony Robbins is right. 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