How can you negotiate speaker Q&A availability?

1 Know your goals

Before you accept or decline a Q&A session, think about what you want to achieve from your speaking engagement. Do you want to increase your visibility, credibility, or network? Do you want to share your insights, opinions, or stories? Do you want to generate leads, sales, or referrals? Depending on your goals, a Q&A session might be more or less beneficial for you. For example, if you want to build trust and rapport with your audience, a Q&A session can help you demonstrate your knowledge and personality. If you want to promote your products or services, a Q&A session can help you address objections and highlight benefits. If you want to avoid controversy or criticism, a Q&A session might expose you to unwanted questions or comments.

2 Understand the format

Different conferences have different formats for Q&A sessions. Some might have a moderator who will select and ask the questions, while others might allow the audience to ask questions directly. Some might have a dedicated time slot for Q&A after each presentation, while others might have a panel discussion or a roundtable with multiple speakers. Some might have a live Q&A session during the event, while others might have a recorded or online Q&A session after the event. You should understand the format of the Q&A session before you agree to participate, and ask the conference organizers for any details or guidelines that you need. For example, you should know how long the Q&A session will last, how many questions you will have to answer, how the questions will be collected and presented, and what kind of questions are appropriate or expected.

3 Negotiate the terms

When planning a Q&A session, it is important to be respectful and professional, yet assertive and confident when negotiating the terms with the conference organizers. You should communicate your preferences and expectations, and be prepared to decline or compromise when necessary. It is possible to negotiate the timing of the Q&A session, such as requesting a specific time slot or opting out altogether if it conflicts with your schedule. Additionally, you can define the scope of the Q&A session by specifying what topics or areas you are willing or able to answer questions on. Furthermore, you can suggest a different format for the Q&A session, such as asking for a moderator to facilitate it or requesting to answer questions in writing or online instead of verbally or live. Lastly, you can negotiate the compensation for the Q&A session and ask for a higher or lower fee, or other benefits or incentives. It is also advisable to ask for a contract that outlines the terms and conditions of the Q&A session in order to protect your rights and interests.

4 Prepare and practice

After you have negotiated and agreed on the terms of the Q&A session, you should prepare and practice for it. You should review your presentation and anticipate the questions that your audience might ask. You should also research your audience and the conference, and tailor your answers to their needs and interests. You should practice answering questions in a clear, concise, and confident manner, and avoid rambling, repeating, or contradicting yourself. You should also prepare some backup strategies in case you encounter a question that you don't know how to answer, such as asking for clarification, admitting your ignorance, or redirecting the question to another speaker or source.

5 Deliver and follow up

On the day of the conference, you should deliver your presentation and Q&A session with enthusiasm and professionalism. You should be respectful and attentive to your audience, and answer their questions with honesty and authority. You should also be flexible and adaptable, and adjust your answers according to the feedback and reactions of your audience. You should also follow up after the Q&A session, and thank your audience and the conference organizers for their participation and support. You should also collect and analyze the data and feedback from the Q&A session, and use it to improve your future speaking engagements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?