You’ve created and practiced your speech. No one interrupted you during your practice. However, when you deliver your presentation live, you will inevitably have audience members interrupt you with questions and comments.

How can you handle these interruptions and still “stay on track” in your presentation?

Below are three detailed ways you can handle interruptions and derailing questions during technical presentations—without losing control.

Set Boundaries Up Front

At the start of your presentation, clearly outline when questions will be taken. Example: “I’ll take clarifying questions as we go, but let’s hold detailed ones for the end.”

Build in time for these interruptions in my presentations. For instance, if I am allotted 30 minutes for my presentation, I plan it for 20 minutes. If I am allotted 1 hour for my presentation, I practice it to be 40 minutes or less.

Sometimes you will not use the full allotted time. This is OK. No one will ever complain about you finishing early. However, if you go overtime, you will have plenty of complaints.

Expectation-setting up front acts like a traffic signal for audience input. It helps you stay on track while reassuring them that their curiosity will be addressed.

If you find that a discussion with an audience member is going on too long, tell them you’re happy to talk at the break, but for now, you need to move on with the presentation.

In high-stakes meetings, setting expectations early also signals confidence and structure—qualities that earn trust with both technical and nontechnical listeners.

So, one way to handle interruptions and questions is to set boundaries up front.

Another way is to use “parking lot” techniques.

Use “Parking Lot” Techniques

When a question drifts off-topic, acknowledge it respectfully, then park it for later.

If you are presenting in person, have a flip chart stand with paper and markers, and then record the off-topic on the flip chart.

Remember, you control the flow of your presentation. You need to be proactive so your presentation doesn’t get “off track” in terms of timing.

Say something like: “That’s a great question—let’s note it and revisit it in Q&A.” This is a typical way to defer a question until the break, without taking any time away from your presentation.

You can jot it on a whiteboard or a visible notepad, showing that you value the input without surrendering control of the flow.

Recording the input goes a long way toward convincing your audience that you value their ideas. However, you must revisit their perspective at the break. This is key. Anyone can say they will get back to an idea. Sadly, few do.

This preserves goodwill while preventing one question from hijacking the message.

Remember again, you are in control of the pace of your presentation. Don’t relinquish this control to a loquacious audience member.

So, there are two ways to handle interruptions and questions that could derail your presentation: set boundaries up front and use “parking lot” techniques.

A final way to handle interruptions and questions is to redirect with purpose and poise

Redirect with Purpose and Poise

If someone insists on diving into the weeds, bridge back to your main point: “That’s an interesting detail, but to keep us focused on the system-level takeaway…” or “Let’s loop back to that after we finish the main results section.”

This is a courteous and effective way to bring your presentation back to its topic. Few audience members will ever challenge you on this.

This redirect technique is used by experienced technical leads and keynote speakers alike—it keeps you the captain of the ship while still validating the passenger’s curiosity.

Honest acknowledgment of audience members’ concerns is vital to your remaining on schedule. It also maintains your credibility, which is key to an excellent presentation.

So, three ways to handle interruptions and questions are (1) set boundaries up front, (2) use “parking lot” techniques, and (3) redirect with purpose and poise.

Interruptions and questions test not just your timing but your temperament—the real mark of a master presenter isn’t perfect delivery, it’s graceful recovery.

Call to Action

• Build in time for interruptions and questions in your presentations.

• When an audience question drifts off-topic, acknowledge it respectfully, then “park it” for later.

• If someone insists on diving into the “weeds,” bridge back to your main point.

References

• Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences. Wiley

• Gallo, C. (2014). Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. St. Martin’s Press.

• Reynolds, G. (2012). Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. New Riders.

• Carnegie, D. (1936). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Simon & Schuster.

• Bradbury, A. (2018). Successful Presentation Skills. Kogan Page.

Being a confident, engaging, and effective STEM speaker is a vital personal and professional asset. With more than 40 years of engineering experience and more than 30 years of award-winning public speaking experience, I can help you reduce your presentation preparatory time by 50%, overcome your fear of public speaking and be completely at ease, deliver your presentations effectively, develop your personal presence with your audience; and apply an innovative way to handle audience questions deftly.

Working closely with you, I provide a customized protocol employing the critical skills and tools you need to create, practice, and deliver excellent STEM speeches and presentations. Let’s connect and explore how I can help you become the exceptional speaker you were meant to be. Please reach out to me at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com or 703-509-4424 for a complimentary consultation. Schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/frankdibartolomeospeaks