193. Conquer questions: ADDing Value To Your Answers

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart

Communicating, Influence, Career Skills, Career, Business, Education, Leadership, Careers, Communication, Career Growth, Public Speaking, Language Learning, Improv

4.7 • 711 Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Turn Q&A from nerve-wracking to confidence-boosting with strategies for clear, controlled answers.

A great presentation doesn’t end with the final slide—it continues through the Q&A, where real engagement happens. Yet, for many speakers, this is the most nerve-wracking part. In this episode, Matt Abrahams explores why Q&A can feel intimidating and how shifting your mindset can turn it into an opportunity rather than a challenge. Drawing from his book, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, he shares expert-backed techniques for structuring responses, managing audience expectations, and maintaining composure under pressure. Whether you're facing a tough crowd or just want to refine your speaking skills, you’ll walk away with the confidence to command the room—no matter the question.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:04) - The Challenge of Q&A
(03:02) - Preparing for Q&A in Advance
(03:42) - When to Take Questions
(04:31) - How to Ask for Questions Effectively
(05:34) - Audience Anxiety in Q&A
(06:49) - Managing Questions Efficiently
(07:50) - Answering Questions with Confidence
(09:03) - The ADD Method for Answering Questions
(10:16) - Closing Your Q&A with Impact
(11:10) - Conclusion

Join our upcoming 200th episode live event April 14 & 15
Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Get ready for our Think Fast Talk Smart online live event, April 14th and 15th.
0:08.1	Join the Think Fast Talk Smart global community for a live recording to mark our 200th episode.
0:14.6	I will be delivering a short talk called Mind Over Chatter, Tips and Tricks to Focus Your
0:20.0	Communication. And then I'll take your questions
0:23.0	in an Ask Matt Anything. All registered participants can submit questions during the event,
0:29.2	but a few premium members will have the opportunity to join me live on video to ask their
0:34.9	questions. We're offering two 45-minute sessions, one on April 14th
0:41.3	at 8 p.m. Pacific and the other on April 15th at 8 a.m. Pacific to make sure everyone around the
0:48.8	globe can join us. Register at faster, smarter.io slash live. That's faster, smarter.io slash live. That's FasterSmartter.i.o slash live. I look forward to celebrating with you at one or both of these events.
1:09.1	Many of us struggle and feel nervous when we go from monologue to dialogue, from presenting, to Q&A.
1:16.6	Yet it doesn't have to be this way.
1:19.7	My name is Matt Abrahams, and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
1:25.5	Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast.
1:29.9	Q&A during meetings and presentations can be incredibly challenging and nerve-wracking,
1:34.9	yet there are things we can do to feel more calm and confident in Q&A. Today I'll be playing
1:40.7	a chapter from my first book, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out,
1:47.1	which is now available as an audiobook on Spotify.
1:54.4	Speaking Up Without Freaking Out is all about helping you be more calm and confident when you communicate.
1:58.9	So as you listen to this chapter, I have one question for you.
2:05.0	What will you take away to help you feel and do better in your next Q&A session?
2:10.2	Appendix C, commanding the room with confidence during Q&A.
2:15.4	Mustering the courage to present confidently in front of others is hard enough.
	...

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