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Beating the Heckle Out of Hecklers - Strategies For Successful Q&A Sessions 

Regardless of the type of presentation you're making, once you begin the Q&A, you need to be able to think quickly on your feet, especially if the questions border on belligerence or belittlement. Then, you may have to the Toss-It-Back Strategy. Another possibility is the Break-It-Down Strategy.

By the way, it's a smart move to tell your audience at the beginning that there will be a Q&A period at the end. This not only shows you're professional enough to be organized, it also prevents people from interrupting to ask questions during the course of your remarks.

THE BELLIGERENT Q&A QUESTION

You: (At the conclusion of your prepared remarks) "In summary, then, let me encourage each of you to take a more active leadership role and to do what Joel Barker encourages us to do: Leader-shift!" Are there any questions?"

Audience member: "Are you comparing your ideas to those of a futurist as prominent as Joel Barker?"

Having finished your planned remarks, you've opened the Q&A session up for questions. Unfortunately, the very first one seems purposely unkind. With a question as challenging as this was meant to be, you can't proceed as planned-unless you can isolate something you've already cited in your remarks and repeat it, if appropriate, in response to the question. It's more likely, though, that you'll have to proceed extemporaneously. Try tossing it back to the questioner.

TOSS-IT-BACK STRATEGY

You: "If I were as prominent as Mr. Barker, I probably wouldn't be in this room today, addressing a group of engineers for no money. I'd be in Hawaii, charging people $50,000 an hour to hear my words of wisdom. No... I'm not comparing myself to Mr. Barker, but I wonder if you'd mind telling the audience what you know about him and his remarkable theories."

Analysis: You've handled yourself well here. You've deflected some of the attention from yourself by alluding to a remarkably successful individual. You've answered the question. And, you've also managed to compliment the heckler. Sometimes, all they need is to hear themselves speak for a minute or two.

BREAK-IT-DOWN STRATEGY

Audience member: "Can you tell me the origin of the phrase "leader-shift" and how it differs from the theory espoused by Jim Collins when he says we need to establish BHAG's? I'd also like to know if you concur with the Jim Kouzes recommendation to manage with a heart and the Warren Bennis research that shows leaders invariably employ unusual language constructs."

You: "Certainly. Let's take it one point at a time. Now what was the first one?"

Analysis: If you remembered each point (or if you had made quick notes) you could address each one. But if you were overwhelmed by the expanse of this question (and also by the speaker's obvious knowledge of the subject), put the information-ball back in his court and ask him to identify the first point so you can respond to it.

To be sure, your audience will mostly be made up of people who really want more knowledge. On occasion, unfortunately, you'll also encounter people who want attention more than knowledge. Prepare to deal with them during Q&A via these two strategies.

 

Dr. Marlene Caroselli: link

 

Related: Q&A

 

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