Fielding Questions - online

Participation

For all doctoral candidates and postdocs of all disciplines.

Objectives

This two-day activity-based online workshop, led by a theatre professional, aims to help speakers evaluate and reflect on best practices for handling the question and answer session in a remote setting. Participants will learn how to deal with “worst case scenarios”, and handling aggressive comments and difficult questions while staying polite, confident and succinct. They will practice listening, expanding thinking time and use the discussion to reiterate their key message.

Content

Exercises are used throughout the course to ensure that participants can immediately put skills into practice. Participants will be required to prepare a 3-5 minute overview of their topic as a basis for the audience discussion. Participants will have an opportunity to test their performance in a Q&A roleplay session and get tailor-made feedback from both the trainer and fellow participants. Participants will be split into two groups and will meet for 3.5 hours on each day (morning or afternoon) of the training.

• Developing effective tactics for handling difficult questions
• Thinking on one's feet
• Improving listening skills
• Using professional language
• Economizing language
• Managing anxiety