Have you ever asked a question and gotten back a quick, canned response? It’s kind of annoying isn’t it? Especially after a conference call, presentation, or lecture, giving good answers is important as they cement everything covered. And here are several things to consider before
answering those questions.
The most important part of answering is listening to the question. If you don’t listen carefully, odds are your answer won’t be as good as it could be. Pay attention to what someone is saying, but make sure to read how they’re saying it as well. There could be deeper meanings to even a simple question.
After hearing the question and before giving your answer, it’s a good idea to restate the question out loud. This not only helps you focus on what was said, but gives the questioner a chance to make sure that what they wanted to ask was what they actually asked. Restating the question also gives you time to think, and who knows, the answer could even be found in the question!
There is a cycle to Q&As, a kind of back and forth. I found this nice summary of Jerry Weissman by Olivia Mitchell that can help us answer questions effectively every time:
- Ask for questions
- Recognize the questioner
- Listen effectively
- Acknowledge their concern
- Rephrase the key issue
- Answer
