How Not to Be That Guy When You Have a Q&A Mic
In any reading, viewing, or panel discussion, questions and answers from the audience can beautifully end an event or ruin it. For a few minutes, the whole room will be captivated for everyone who knows how to hold a microphone and loves the sound of their voice. Not everyone deserves that kind of power. Here’s how to deal with it.
Think ahead
Usually there is an awkward silence at the beginning of the questions and answers, when everyone thinks about the question, and the moderator says, “Don’t be shy.” As you speak, think about what you would ask the speaker and on what topics you could discuss more. If it’s appropriate to pull out your phone, write yourself a note. Then, when the time comes, you will already have a question ready. You will do everyone a favor.
Exercise
Repeat your question in your mind a couple of times. You don’t need to memorize it verbatim, but you want to master your words by the time the attention of the whole room attracts you.
Be brief
We all fidgeted in our seats as someone wanders on, expecting to see if they really have a question. When you mentally repeat a question, make it shorter each time. And stick to one question; no one needs a two-part.
Actually there is a question
My wife dreams of carrying a sign to every event she attends, reading NO QUESTION, and holding it high every time a member of the audience just starts to tell the people on stage. If you have “more comments” please keep it to yourself or tweet instead.
Ask a question with a broadly applicable answer
Ask yourself if your question will matter to anyone other than you. If not, try approaching the speaker one-on-one after the event instead. (But don’t chase them.)
Don’t promote yourself
There is an easy way to find out if everyone wants to hear about your book, business, or upcoming event: are you the person on stage that everyone has come to hear? Q&A is not a meeting and greeting. Again, if you truly believe that your own work is valuable to others, talk to them one-on-one afterwards.
Don’t pull the mic
Once you’ve asked your question, give up the microphone. If you have additional questions or an answer to the speaker’s answer, please come back to them later.
In general, remember that any time spent on your question is time not spent on someone else’s. So think competitively: how can you make your question make better use of the group’s time than everyone else?