Some people are of the belief that we should stop saying “that’s a great question”. Some view it as a stalling technique while others view it as a distraction. Some people feel you are grading the questions and yet some think it is a veiled attempt at flattery. I call nonsense on all of those things.
Why you should say “that’s a great question”
Because it takes a huge amount of confidence for someone to speak up in a group and ask a question. Many people will withhold their questions for fear of looking stupid and feeling they should already know the answer.
By injecting “that’s a great question” into your Q&A session it will relax the crowd and encourage more questions. Praising your audience for the questions they are asking removes the uncomfortable feeling that prevents most people from raising their hand to ask questions in front of a group of people.
When not to say “that’s a great question”
- to every question asked because it will loose its power
- when the question is not good
- as a stalling technique because the audience will be able to detect your hesitation
More ways to say that’s a great question:
- That’s a very good question
- I’m so glad you asked me that (this one combines praise with gratitude)
- I’ve been giving that a great deal of thought
Last updated on March 5th, 2018 at 07:32 am
