Preparing for Q&A sessions

By honing your public speaking skills and rehearsing for your presentation, you will now be equipped to present yourself as a competent, confident, inspirational new manager. An element of unpredictability, however, is inherent in any presentation. Preparation cannot control the way the audience responds and reacts. Furthermore, any traction you gain due to a flawless presentation will evaporate if you have difficulty fielding questions from your team, bosses, or other audience members.

Questions can pop up at any time during a presentation. Don't assume that the omission of a formal "question and answer" session on your presentation assignment means that questions won't be asked. Demonstrate your leadership skills, your comprehensive understanding of your presentation subject matter, and your ability to think on your feet by preparing yourself to handle questions whenever they arise.

Make a list of inevitable or predictable questions likely to be raised in response...