Menu
Logo for Pam Chambers Consulting
Professional Public Speaking Coach
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Resources
  • Logo for Pam Chambers Consulting
  • Clients
  • Search
  • Contact
  • Legal
Close Menu

“Please Hold your Questions ‘Til the End.”

Have you ever heard a speaker say, “Please hold your questions ’til the end?” I have, hundreds of times. Here’s why that’s a bad idea:

  1. People who have a burning question on their mind are distracted and unlikely to fully grasp whatever comes next. Their learning is now compromised.
  2. Unless people write their question down, they might forget what it was.
  3. When you ask your audience to be silent ’til the end, you create an unnatural relationship. In fact, you prevent a relationship from developing.
  4. You show that you are fearful of something. Losing track? Losing control? Running out of time? Not knowing the answer? Competent speakers have the tools to prevent these possibilities.

If you are lucky enough to get questions, you may have to “praise and limit.” You might say, “I’m delighted that you are so interested! I want to be sure I deliver what I promised, so I’ll take one more question now.”

Here is my final argument against “Hold your questions ’til the end.” Would you ask the same of a dining companion? “I thought you should know my lunch rule: I will do all the talking until the final five minutes. At that time, you can ask questions or offer your opinion.”

You’d be a very lonely diner indeed! Don’t be a lonely diner and don’t be a lonely speaker either.

They Don’t Want to Be There Making S*%# Up

Related Posts

Workshop participants sit with people they don't know.

by Pam Chambers

Embrace the Challenge: Meet 100 People in 100 Days

Wow your date

by Pam Chambers

Wow your Lunch Guest in 7 Easy Steps

Elevator

by Pam Chambers

Create a Compelling 30-Second Speech

The Pam & Susan Show!

Pam’s Virtual Classroom

Pam on PBS Hawaii

Pam’s Books


Back To Top
Pam Chambers Consulting
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Clients
  • Resources
  • Pam’s Virtual Classroom
  • PBS Hawaii
  • Pam’s Books
  • Search
  • Contact
  • Legal
spacer

All content © 2020 Pam Chambers.

All Rights Reserved.

Logo for Pam Chambers Consulting