================================================= Simply Speaking...Selling Yourself & Your Ideas E-Zine Volume 2, No 9, September, 1999 Copyright, 1999 ================================================= Published by Lenny Laskowski, International Professional Speaker President of LJL Seminars (tm) 106 Schoolhouse Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States Of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 eFax: (305) 489-6481 Web page: http://www.ljlseminars.com mailto:LennyL@LJLSeminars.com ------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: 1. How To Handle That Dreaded Question & Answer Period 2. Our NEW Simply Speaking Discussion Board 3. Lenny's new program - How to Grow Your Business Using the Internet" 4. Seminars, Workshops, Consultation services 5. Lenny's keynote speeches 6. Lenny's books, videotapes, audiotapes & booklets 7. How to request more information about Lenny's services 8. How to Subscribe / Unsubscribe 9. Advertising Rates / Sponsorship Rates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * FREE Monthly Speaking Tips - July, 1999 * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This month and occasionally in future issues I will be featuring articles from other professionals which I feel are a benefit to my subscribers and matches the focus of my newsletter. I have had several requests by people to include articles and I am willing to do so as I have done in this issues but they must be related to the topics of speaking, presentation skills and communication skills. Below is the 2nd part of a two-part an article from a very good colleague and friend of mine. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. How To Handle That Dreaded Questions & Answer Period =================================================== How to Handle That Dreaded Question & Answer Period by Lenny Laskowski © 1998 LJL Seminars Many presentations today are followed up with a question and answer period. To some people this can be the most exciting part of the presentation. To others it can be there worst nightmare. In fact, there are some presenters who purposely avoid the question and answer period all together. Below I have provided a 5 step approach to handling questions along with some additional tips to make your next question and answer session go smoother. Listen to the entire question Listen to the entire question BEFORE you begin to answer any questions. Too many people start responding to a question before the entire question is even asked. Not waiting to hear the entire questions can result in you providing a response which had nothing to do with the question. Force youself to LISTEN to the entire question and make sure you understand the question. Pause and allow yourself time the value the question and listener. REPEAT the question outload so the entire audience can hear it. It is important that everyone "hear" the question or the answer you provide may not make sense to some of the people. By repeating the question, this will allow you some additional time to evaluate the question and formulate a response. Credit The Person for asking the question. You may say something like, "That was a great question" or, "Glad you asked that question" or even, "I get asked that question by many people". One word of caution. If you credit one person with asking a question, be sure to credit EVERYONE for asking a question. You don't want people to feel their question was not as important. Respond to the Question honestly and the best you can. If you do NOT know an answer to a question, do not try to fake it. Be honest, and tell them you do not know but DO promise to research the answer for them and DO get back to them. Bridge to the next question by asking them a question. "Does that answer your question?" "Is that the kind of information you were looking for?". This is critical.. Once they responde to you, "YES" you now have permission to go onto the next person. This also gives them one more opportunity to say, "No" and allow them to clarify their question more by asking it again. Additional Tips on Handling Questions A. Ask people to stand up when they ask a question. This does two things: (1) It shows you more readily who is asking the question, and (2) It make it easier for the audience to also hear the question. B. Have small sheets of paper available for people to write down their questions during your presentation. They may forget what they were going to ask earlier. C. Allow people to pass the questios to you if they feel uncomfortable standing up and asking the question out loud. This gives the person who truly wants to ask a question an option. D. Always repeat the question - this does three things: (1) it makes sure you understood the question, (2) it gives you a chance to value the question and think of an answer, and (3) it assures the other people iin the audience can hear the question since you are facing them. E. Always take time to think "before" you answer all questions. This allows you time to think, especially for those difficult questions. Do the same for those questions you readily know the answer for. Responding too quickly to those questions you are most comfortable with will only bring attention to those question you do not. F. Have a pencil and paper available for you to write down questions you can't answer. You may even elect someone to record the questions on paper. This way, you can properly follow up with the person who asked the question you couldn't answer. Be sure to get their name & phone number or address. Promise to get back to them and DO get back to them. ==================================================== 2. Our NEW Simply Speaking Discussion Board !!! ==================================================== I asked, you responded and I listened... By popular request, I have created an on-line discussion board where you can participate and ask me questions specific to presentation skills, speaking, communication skills & related topics. You do this by "posting" your questions on my discussion board and I will provide a response. Other visitors to my website and subscribers to my Simply Speaking E-Zine can also post a response. This is YOUR Discussion Board. To go immediately to the Simply Speaking Discussion Board take the link below and enjoy! http://www.ljlseminars.com/discussion.htm ==================================================== 3. " How To Grow Your Business Using the Internet" ==================================================== Lenny's website routinely receives between 40,000 and 60,000 visitors EVERY month and the numbers continue to grow! Lenny has sold his speaking products to clients in over 76 countries and now has over 18,00 subscribers to this Simply Speaking E-Zine as a direct result of his Website! Lenny's articles are published regularly in over 100 newsletters or magazines every year. His website has visitors from over 100 countries around the world! Do you have a website? Are your thinking about developing a website? Would you like to know Lenny's secrets? Lenny has developed a BRAND NEW exciting program entitled, "How To Grow Your Business Using the Internet". This exciting program will provide you all the inside secrets to Web Page Design so people CAN find you, How to rank high in the search engines, How to effectively use newsgroups and E-mail marketing and much more. Want Lenny to deliver his powerful 90 minute keynote by this same title? Would you like to spend a FULL DAY with Lenny and learn all his secrets? Maybe you would like a 2 hour private telephone consultation with Lenny. You can. Just call 1-800-606-4855 or E-mail us at Sales@LJLSeminars.com and ask about this exciting program. This might be just the perfect program for 1999 to launch you or your organization into the 21st century. Why not call today and schedule Lenny for your next meeting. Can't wait and need to know some of Lenny's top secrets now! Lenny has written a powerful new book entitled , "How To Grow Your Business Using the Internet" which describes in detail what Lenny has spent the last 3 years learning about the marketing on the Internet. This book retails for $ 49.95 and if ordered in response to this E-zine can be yours for only $ 39.95!! You can even order this exciting new book directly from Lenny's website. Just send along a corresponding e-mail and mention this e-zine to purchase this book at this special rate. VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER CARDS WELCOME!!! Why not order today! ==================================================== 4. Seminars, Workshops, Consultation Services ==================================================== 5. Lenny's keynote speeches =================================================== 6. Lenny's books, videotapes, audiotapes & booklets =================================================== 7. Where to get more information Lenny's services. Feel free to request information about Lenny's seminars, workshops and keynotes. If you would like a formal proposal, please E-mail your request to: Sales@LJLSeminars.com or mail to the address below: Lenny Laskowski, International Professional Speaker President of LJL Seminars (tm) 106 Schoolhouse Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 eFax: (305)489-6481 ===================================================== ******* You can earn 10% commissions ******************** ===================================================== You can also earn 10% commissions on any leads you send my way. Provide me the name, address & telephone number of those you know who might be able to use my services, make the initial call with them and tell them I will be contacting them and send me an E-mail that you have done so. When I contact them and if we result in doing business with them I will mail you a check for 10% of the total contract just for referring us! ============================================================= 8. How to Subscribe to This E-zine: Send an e-mail to majordomo@ljlseminars.com and in the BODY of the message type: subscribe simply To unsubscribe to our newsletter by e-mail: Send an e-mail to majordomo@ljlseminars.com and in the BODY of the message type: unsubscribe simply =============================================== 9. Advertising Rates / Sponsorship Rates =============================================== Our Simply Speaking E-zine has a current circulation of 18,000+ subscribers from over 76 countries (77% within the United States). This E-zine is sent out once each month to all subscribers. It is sent out approximately the 2nd or 3rd week of each month. Solo ads are acceptable and more than one ad can be submitted. 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Also, send me two(2) copies of the actual publication to the address below: As new monthly tips are developed they will be e-mailed separately. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks again for visiting my website and remember to keep returning EACH month for new tips. Also, let me know if you would like to see any other speaking tips and remember to pass these tips along to EVERYONE you know! Until next month! - Lenny Laskowski :-)