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

⏱️ 12 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
(02:02) - The Challenge of Q&A
(03:00) - Preparing for Q&A in Advance
(03:40) - When to Take Questions
(04:29) - How to Ask for Questions Effectively
(05:32) - Audience Anxiety in Q&A
(06:47) - Managing Questions Efficiently
(07:48) - Answering Questions with Confidence
(09:01) - The ADD Method for Answering Questions
(10:14) - Closing Your Q&A with Impact
(11:08) - Conclusion

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, Matt here. We spend years developing skills, gaining experience, and working hard.
0:06.5	But when it comes to advancing, making a career change, or negotiating a better salary, many of us hesitate.
0:12.7	Because we lack a clear strategy and accountability. And that's where today's sponsor,
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0:23.6	about having the right guidance and feedback. Strawberry.me matches you with a certified career coach
0:29.0	who will help you clarify your career goals. They'll help develop a results-driven strategy
0:33.9	because progress requires action. And finally, they'll help you stay accountable.
0:39.9	Top athletes have coaches, great speakers have coaches. So why wouldn't you have one for your career?
0:45.9	Go to strawberry.m.m.m. slash smart and claim your $50 credit. That's strawberry.m.m.
0:53.7	slash smart. Because great careers don't just happen. They're built
0:58.9	with the right coaching.
1:04.9	Many of us struggle and feel nervous when we go from monologue to dialogue, from presenting to Q&A.
1:14.6	Yet it doesn't have to be this way.
1:17.7	My name is Matt Abrahams, and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
1:23.4	Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast.
1:27.9	Q&A during meetings and presentations can be incredibly challenging and nerve-wracking,
1:32.8	yet there are things we can do to feel more calm and confident in Q&A.
1:37.6	Today I'll be playing a chapter from my first book, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out,
1:42.1	which is now available as an audiobook on Spotify. Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, which is now available as an audiobook on Spotify.
1:45.9	Speaking Up Without Freaking Out is all about helping you be more calm and confident when you
1:51.9	communicate. So as you listen to this chapter, I have one question for you. What will you
1:58.1	take away to help you feel and do better in your next Q&A session?
	...

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