How to Answer A Long-Winded Question

It's important to learn how to answer questions long-winded questions after a presentation smoothly. Listeners sometimes flood you with a jumble of questions, opinions, and concerns all at once.

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It's very tempting to let the person's general attitude rub off on you but you can't give attitude back. Why? Because you, as the speaker/leader, will be viewed as losing your composure.

Leaders and speakers are held to a higher standard than followers and listeners. You have to take the high road.

The tip is this: Answer the flood of questions at a higher, more general level and speak to the heart of the issue concisely. You should not try to address all 10 or more issues the person brought up one at a time. That won't work. Here's how it would sound:

"Clearly, there are a lot of issues here. Overall, here's my view . . . " and then keep the rest of your answer concise.

This approach acknowledges the questioner's concerns in a respectful way but also lets you off the hook from having to drill into so many overlapping issues from just one listener.

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[alexanderlyon]

Question of the day: What are your tips for handling tough Q&A?

[emaluboniface]

I am a communication novice but I am learning a lot from you sir. Thank you.

[kathyglass]

How do you handle a underhanded or even a direct comment from a colleague that is hurtful, maybe even personal. I have thought about saying, " That is perspective I hadn't considered. I'll have to reflect on this. I would like to talk to you more about this. Let's talk about this later." What do you think? Are their other responses?
Or for a really awful comment such as, "I'm not going to be on that project if 'so and so' is on it. In reference to me. I've thought of saying, "Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel!"

[christophewakim]

Hello Alex I am in college and I am studying History and international relations. Some teachers when they explain a notion they are so long winded and I am confused about that. is it polite if I ask them to boil down there ideas?