How should you handle off-topic questions during a Q&A session?

I usually respond, “Interesting question! The answer is more involved than what we have time for in this forum. Let’s discuss offline!”

That is a fascinating question; let's speak about this offline and allow others to ask questions relevant to today's presentation. That is an excellent question. I don't have the answer at the tips of my fingers right now (or readily available), but I would like to give you a solution. Let me go ahead and write this down. I will get back to you with a reply. I just wanted to let you know that your question is out of the scope of my area of expertise. I could speculate or use anecdotal information to reply. However, I would prefer not to have you leave this session with misinformation. You should contact an expert in this space (or direct to research sources or, if possible, refer to an expert you know).

What a great question! I think it is a little off topic, but if you'd like to discuss that in further detail, I would be happy to do so after the meeting.

Sagan used to say that every question is a cry to understand the world. As such, every question must be understood (within the context from which it was asked) and properly acknowledge before being dismissed.

In such a situation I would say, "Thanks for that question. It's a bit outside the scope of what we're discussing today, so if it's alright, I'd like to ask the larger audience if they would like me to answer your question. If not, out of respect for them and the topic they've taken the time to come and listen to, I'm happy to take this offline after the session." Then if the larger audience said they'd like the question to be answered, I'd address it. If not, I'd move on. Note, I'd take the above approach if I DID have an answer to the off-topic question and felt that the answer could be interesting or of value to the audience.

It always helps to ask clarifying questions to understand the intent of the question and the context from which it's being asked. You may find that it is not an off-topic question and then can proceed to answer it. If it is off topic you can then redirect the question or offer to discuss it offline.

I think all questions have relevance. It's the lens through which it is being looked at that results in it being asked. Asking a follow up clarification statement or question to better grasp the persons perspective is key here.

Such difficult and challenging questions have been a great learning experience for me. You can apply all your brain muscles and answer the question. If the question is related to your topic, definitely you are competent enough to answer this question. It's a great opportunity to update your presentation and upgrade your own knowledge.

One can as well do this because doing the above will give the best result for everyone but where after evaluating the relevance fails,one can still douse the situation by respectfully telling the one asking the off - topic question to see you later then you can go on with the days topic.

In my experience, sometimes what seems like an off-topic question can be highly relevant when viewed from a different angle. Asking yourself these guiding questions keeps you flexible and attentive to the needs of your audience. I'd add one thing: sometimes, the relevance of a question could be more apparent to the audience, even if it is to you. In those cases, briefly explain why you're answering a question that may seem tangential. This will keep your audience engaged and help them see the larger framework of your discussion.

It's totally ok to say "I don't have the relevant info to answer that question, but I can follow up with you" or yes, even re direct the question to someone else present without putting them on the spot.

Yes, redirecting the conversation to a post-session is important, plus it gives the chance for the speaker to connect with audience members more. While it does remove the chance for others to hear the answer, if they are curious, they could always join the post-session afterwards. A great place to practice networking skills as well!

There is no harm in saying, " I will come back to you on this after the break.". Do your research in the meantime and answer the question. It will improve your credibility as a speaker. Another technique is to conduct a small brainstorming session among the participants and the answer will evolve.

This is great. Redirecting the question is always the best. It saves the speaker and the audience get to feel a part of the discussion.

Being able to gracefully steer the conversation back to the central topic without offending anyone is an art. Whether you refer the question to another source or suggest a follow-up conversation, the key is to remain respectful and tactful. It not only brings the focus back but also increases engagement levels. However, it's crucial to read the room correctly. If the audience is highly invested in the off-topic question, then a more extended discussion post-presentation might be beneficial.

One thing I’ve found useful in such situations is to always have a parking lot for open questions from the audience . Ideally the questions I end up parking on the side are the ones that do not really add more to the existing conversation or something that needs to be taken offline as one can dwell into topics that are not part of the session or are a part of a follow on session

To all the previous points, make sure you’re validating it’s actually off topic and always be respectful. However, when you’ve triaged and determined it’s truly a question that distracts versus enhances the discussion, be really intentional about not getting sucked into a rabbit hole brought on by the off-topic question. While it may seem easy and obvious, there are times an off-topic question will bring to mind a story or something else you’re also interested in. Not only will failing to move on result in you potentially losing the rest of your audience, you’re missing opportunity to further a meaningful dialogue with the group. This is especially important since presenting should be about your audience, not you.

There's a tendency for people, especially those who are less experienced, to linger on a complicated or off-topic question, thinking they need to justify why they're not diving into it. This can sidetrack the entire Q&A session and dilute the power of the presentation you've just given. The act of efficiently moving on is itself a signal to the audience about the focus and structure of the Q&A, ensuring that the key messages remain front and center.

It's a good idea to make sure that the person who asked the question is satisfied with the answer. If he is satisfied, you as a trainer and speaker have handled the situation successfully. If not, again you may direct the question to other participants and get their input. If the question is from your presentation, definitely you will be able to handle the situation successfully.

An off-topic question speaks volumes about what your audience wants from you! It‘s a great piece of insight and you can learn a lot from analysing who asked it, who agreed/supported it, when was it asked, etc.

How about a bolder approach? I’d say >In the spirit of breaking away from the norm, let's tackle that off-topic question head-on. It's like a wild card that just got thrown into our discussion, and I'm all for shaking things up. So, what's your burning question? Let's see how it adds a new dimension to our conversation. Who knows, it might just lead us to uncharted territories of thought and innovation. But remember, we'll swing back to our main topic once we've explored this intriguing detour. Ready?

I agree but, if you get an irrelevant question, or worse, a hostile one you could: • Thank the person asking the question regardless. This is especially effective for neutralizing hostile questions posed. By thanking them for the new perspective they’re providing , you show an openness without giving up your authority. • If possible, pivot irrelevant questions toward something else that you do want to address in your Q&A, but have not had a chance to. One technique for doing that is to rephrase the question: If I understand right, the question is: and then pivot toward the question you want to answer. Also, works for situations when you can’t quite hear the question and you are just not really sure what they’re asking!

* If you are doing a media interview (radio, podcast, and especially TV) your "on air" time is extremely limited. When you're asked a question that isn't about your talking points, you can more or less ignore it and instead say what you want to convey (e.g., "I think the real question here is..."). * Your host will NOT be upset with you. They want you to talk about your expertise so the show is interesting to the public. Nobody wants to hear you fumbling for words (since you're not a celebrity, nobody is interested in seeing you embarrassed).

How off-topic are we talking about? Because in my opinion as a professional speaker, any question is an opportunity to support someone who is curious and willing to step up and learn. When I get questions that require complex, lengthy answers, after the first round of answers I then suggest I answer the person 1:1 in my speaker's line thereby tailoring the conversation and helping that person out even more.