How to Use Rhetorical Questions When You Speak
How to Use Rhetorical Questions When You Speak Are you making the best use of rhetorical questions? A rhetorical question is a question that you pose – pause for one or two seconds – and then you answer the question. (Sometimes you don’t answer. You simply let the thought hang to allow them thinking space.) This is a powerful and dramatic technique to include in your presentations. Why? Because questions engage and if makes your presentation feel more conversational. The audience doesn’t care who asked the question. Their brain registers a question and answer, like a normal conversation. That makes it feel more friendly and less like a lecture or sales pitch. This technique can help you keep the audience better engaged throughout the presentation. Every time you pose a question, it engages them because questions engage better than statements. Statement after statement gets boring and annoying. When should you use a rhetorical question? Immediately before delivering an important fact. What is the real cost of this problem? How long have we been trying to solve this challenge? What are the most common mistakes? Use those questions to create anticipation for the facts that follow. The rhetorical question sets up the interest in their mind to welcomes the facts. Opening You might open your presentation with a rhetorical question: Would it surprise you to hear… Did you know that… Why did they make it so difficult… Transitions Use rhetorical questions as transitions between the parts of your presentation. If you’re launching a new product, you might use these questions to move through your presentation: What changes do we see in the marketplace? What are the threats and opportunities? How might we take advantage of these changes? What direction are we moving? What’s our next steps? Write your presentation A list of rhetorical questions is an easy and quick to outline a presentation. List three to ten questions that would take the audience through the thought process. How might you use rhetorical questions in your next presentation? Follow for more presentation tips or register for weekly tips at www.TorokTips.com Are you ready to have a conversation about transforming your presentations? Call me at 905-335-1997 to arrange an introductory conversation. Access More Presentation Skills Resources Looking For A Speech Coach? Learn More Here
Presentation Tip: Set Up the Question Period for Success
How to Set Up Q&A For Success Set up the question period for success When you plan to answer questions from your audience, here’s how to create a more effective Q&A period. Use the opportunity to answer questions from the audience because that helps your reinforce key points and provides insights into the mins of your audience. The two most damaging mistakes are in how to start the question period and how to end. In this tip, you’ll discover how to start. The biggest mistake is to answer questions after the presentation. That positions the question and answer as distinct from the presentation. Your presentation was about you and your smoke and mirrors and in the question periods that’s when you are really talking to us and addressing our concerns. I encourage you to incorporate the questions into the presentation. That makes the presentation feel more inclusive and more about the audience instead of simply your message. Early in your presentation, tell the audience when and how you will address their questions. Can they interrupt you anytime? Will you pause after each segment to take questions? Or would you prefer to take near the end? Note near the end not at the end. If you plan to answer questions near the end, here’s how you announce the question period. We have time for x minutes of questions and then I will close. Note Then I will close. Let them know that you will close after the questions. That way you finish with you intended message and not the answer to a weak question. Prepare people for the question period by announcing. “In two minutes. I’m going to invite your questions.” Don’t start with “Does anybody have any questions?” That question is both vague and annoying. It doesn’t invite questions. Instead, it suggests uncertainty. Invite questions with, “Who has a question about (my topic)?” That is clear, inviting and steers the questions on course. Don’t claim that you will answer all their questions – because you can’t. What can you do if you invite questions and there is silence? That might mean that they are still thinking about your message. You can stimulate their questions by starting with one of your own. “A question I am often asked is…(you state the question).” Then you answer the question. That provides momentum to more questions from the audience. Set up the question-and-answer session by making it part of the presentation and kick it off with clear direction. Follow for more presentation tips or register for weekly tips at www.TorokTips.com Are you ready to have a conversation about transforming your presentations? Call me at 905-335-1997 to arrange an introductory conversation. Access More Presentation Skills Resources Looking For A Speech Coach? Learn More Here