Whenever they occur, here is a model for answering questions effectively:• Listen. There are presenters, some politicians among them, who do not answerthe question they have been asked. Sometimes this is because they prefer toanswer another question, but sometimes it is because they have not heard thequestion. If you are not sure you have heard it accurately, ask the speaker torepeat it.• Pause. This gives you a little time for thought and gives the audience time toassimilate the question.• Repeat/clarify. Often, people in the audience do not hear the question thespeaker has been asked. By repeating it, they get to hear it for the first time.But this is not all; by repeating it in your own words, you are checking backthat you have understood the question, so clarifying your understanding.An extra bonus is that you get an extra moment to think of the answer.• Respond. This may seem too obvious to state, but answer the question. Do notanswer one you would have preferred to have been asked; do not wafflearound the subject because you cannot answer the question; never lie; do notmake this the opportunity to put in those points of your talk that you forgotto give at the time.• Check back with the questioner. It is courteous to check that you have dealt withthe topic to the questioner’s satisfaction. Doing so will also ensure that youcan clear up any lingering queries.This model will help you deal with almost any type of question and help to keepthe audience thinking of you in a positive way. Whatever method you choose,
ensure that it is appropriate to you and your talk, and that you have told your
audience, preferably in your introduction, when and in what format they should
ask questions.
3.5 Summary
This chapter has presented a model for effective communication, where the communicators
alternate between sending and receiving. Such a model works in a
number of situations: face-to-face communication, meetings and interviews, written
communication such as reports, and non-verbal communication. Whatever
the situation in which you are communicating, there are three things you always
need to know in order to ensure that you are successful: the purpose of your
communication, the nature of your intended audience, and their expertise in
your subject. We looked at barriers to effective communication: not coming
across clearly, not listening effectively, poor presentation, different assumptions
or someone not communicating fully. There were also guidelines for coming
across effectively, for improving your listening skills, your writing skills, your
contributions in meetings and your presentation skills.
People spend a lot of their time communicating, sometimes well but sometimes
badly. It’s worth spending time to improve your skills, as the payoff can be
huge, not just in your job but in your life as a whole. Communication is an area
where many of us are complacent, so reading this chapter every six months or so
is a good way of keeping the ideas in mind and ensuring that you make the most
of what you have learned.
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