Successful Presentation Skills:
Handling Questions With Confidence and Ease

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

	Handle questions with confidence and professionalism
	Use questions as a tool to maintain control at all times
	Involve and integrate the audience effectively in discussions
	Efficiently and concisely respond to difficult situations

Day One: Morning

Group Discussion: Types of Questions

The objective of this session is to increase the awareness of
participants concerning the various types of questions that exist.

Through group discussion, trainees will learn that questions are divided into categories that are used to obtain information and maintain control. The idea that statements and questions produce different results will also be introduced. Examples will briefly be practiced.

Group Practice: Question-Handling Language

The goal of this segment is to introduce and practice common English expressions in preparation for actual performance.

Specific scenarios are provided by the trainer. Participants answer individually at their seats. A group discussion, led by various participants, elicits possible answers. This is followed by an opportunity for participants to briefly practice the phrases.

Group Exercise: Question-Handling

The purpose of this exercise is to promote the idea that a clear strategy is needed in order to effectively respond to questions that arise.

Situations are provided by the trainer. Each participant is given time to think of an appropriate strategy, followed by an answer of their choosing. A group discussion, led by several participants, ensues in which participant answers are analyzed for effectiveness.

Day One: Afternoon

Individual Practice: Putting Practice into Action

The objective of this segment is to give participants a chance to begin applying the aforementioned ideas into practice.

Participants will be asked to present their full presentations. The question and answer section will be the focus of a feedback session. The trainer will be looking for basic skills and language to be applied smoothly. However, the trainer will be prepared to also provide feedback on the actual
presentation if the performance contributed to misunderstanding in the question and answer session.

The presentations are video taped and debriefed.

Day Two: Morning

Group Practice: Handling Difficult People

The objective of this session is to practice ideas for maintaining control and remaining calm when faced with difficult situations.

The trainer will provide trainees with various situations in which a participant poses problems for the speaker. Options for handling the situations are discussed as a group.

Individual Practice: Putting Practice into Action (Continued)

The objective of this segment is to give additional participants a chance to apply the aforementioned ideas. However, the trainer will be looking for participants to move beyond basic skills application toward handling
difficult scenarios with ease.

Participants will be asked to present their full presentations.
Roles will be assigned to audience members in which they ask challenging questions or are intentionally disruptive.

The question and answer section will be the focus of a feedback session. The trainer will be looking for basic skills and language to be applied smoothly. However, the trainer will be prepared to also provide feedback on the actual presentation if the performance contributed to misunderstanding in the question and answer session.

The presentations are video taped and debriefed.

Day Two: Afternoon
Individual Practice: Putting Practice into Action (Continued)