The presentation or pitch Q and A - a common way to finish but one that is often overlooked in its importance. 

The presentation or pitch Q&A is a great opportunity to re-emphasise some of your key points but is often wasted through poor or non-existent planning in advance by the presenter. 

So here are 6 tips for a better presentation or pitch Q&A:

1. Talk the organiser through your Q&A plan

Almost always presenters leave the Q&A plan to the organiser. Don’t do this. Instead discuss with the organiser how you would like the Q&A to run and that you want to run it not them. If you're in charge of taking the questions it will be easier for you to keep your presentation or pitch momentum flowing. 

2. Q&A before your summary

Usually the presenter finishes with the delivery of their rousing summary and then the Q&A begins. No one asks any questions, the whole things goes flat and the audience leave, as does the presenter, feeling a bit deflated. Avoid that by having the Q&A before your rousing finish. Try it. It works really well because this simple change means the Q&A is no longer the last thing your audience hear from you. Once the Q&A gets moving time can quickly disappear so don't forget you've still got your rousing summary / finish to deliver so ensure you have sufficient time left to do that. 

3. Prepare a couple of rhetorical questions

It’s not a great feeling as a presenter if you’ve put everything into your presentation and then the Q&A comes along and no-one asks any questions. Counter this by preparing in advance a couple of questions to ask yourself - and make them about the key points from your pitch or presentation, that then gives you the opportunity to re-emphasise those key points. For example I might say; 'Ladies and Gentlemen whilst you are thinking of a question to ask me the one I most asked during a Q&A is 'what is the best way to practice a presentation?' - you then answer your own question. I think you can do this twice. If at that point no one still has any questions swiftly go into your rousing finish noting that you've probably gained a couple a couple of minutes that weren't used in the Q&A. 

4. Don't interrupt but be ready to interrupt

Try and avoid interrupting someone's question. It can be annoying if you do that. Many presenters are so eager to answer a question they jump in before the question has been fully asked. Don't do that unless... the question asker is taking an age to ask a question which is not good news if you’ve only got a few minutes for a Q&A.  

5. Don't spend too long answering questions 

This happens a lot. Presenters love talking so when they are asked a question there is a tendency to spend too long answering it. Give a succinct answer and take the next question. I recently was on a networking call and asked someon

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