How to run a killer Q&A section.

You’ve just nailed your presentation.
It landed perfectly.
All that’s left is to wrap up with a Q&A that you’d planned.

And then the moment lost its shine as the Q&A didn’t go as smoothly as the speech did.

Q&As can feel like the wild west of public speaking. Unpredictable. Uncontrolled. And if we’re honest, they often fall into one of three un-fun categories:

1. Dead silence.
No hands go up. Tumbleweed. You’re left standing there awkwardly.

2. Left-field questions.
Someone asks something totally unrelated or weird. You weren’t prepared. Nobody else knows what’s happening.

3. The gotcha.
A critic in the crowd comes loaded with a “Have you considered…?” question to try to catch you out.

Whichever scenario plays out, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s not the ideal way for your presentation to conclude. You’d envisaged it finishing to rapturous applause and maybe even a nod of approval from the CEO.

Whichever way it breaks, it’s not the closing note you wanted. Not crickets. Not confusion. Not confrontation.

Here’s how to take back control and own your Q&A like a pro.

1. Don’t End on the Q&A

Big mistake. Huge.

A Q&A is not the grand finale—it’s a wild card. Run it before your actual closing remarks. Set a time limit. Take a few questions, then you bring it home with a killer summary that reinforces your core message. End strong, on your terms.

2. Be Ready for Radio Silence

Silence doesn’t have to be awkward. Just plan for it:
- Ask a colleague to plant a question. Yes, it’s allowed. No shame.
- Mention a couple of “common questions” to kick things off—it gets the room thinking
- Raise your hand as you open the floor. It signals to the audience that it’s okay to participate
- If no one bites, wrap it up smoothly. “Sounds like I covered everything—great!” Then segue to your closing.

3. Tough Questions? Bring ’Em On

Q&A anxiety is real. But tough questions don’t have to rattle you—if you’re prepared.
Have a few go-to phrases ready:
“Great question. Let’s chat after—I’ve got a longer answer than we have time for.”
“That’s something we’re still exploring—I’ll follow up with more info.”
“That topic was considered. Here’s why we made the call we did…”

Be honest. Be calm. Stay in control.

Bottom line: Don’t wing it
Most people treat the Q&A as an afterthought. But it can make or break how people remember your talk. Put in a little prep, and you’ll walk off the stage feeling bulletproof—not blindsided.

You nailed the pitch. Now finish like a boss.

Hate public speaking? Let’s fix that.
If you want to start your journey to banish your fear of public speaking and presenting, improve your confidence, and boost your career prospects, then check out the online masterclass here at Better Public Speaking.