Two readers recently posed questions about what to do when your presentation veers off-track because of audience questions. Put another way: Is there any way to get the audience in line with your presentation? You'll need to float like a butterfly, not sting like a bee. Here's what they asked:

Emily Culbertson requested "Graceful ways to bring off-topic questions (sometimes relative, sometimes absolute) back to the body of the talk when Q&A veers off-course."

Mary Fletcher Jones wants to know, "How do you handle the person who won't stop interrupting and commenting and asking questions, you know, to annoying degree (when you can actually feel the audience bristling)? Every so often they pop up, and it can get kind of disruptive."

Let me just say you want questions - it's a sign the audience is engaged and expectant that you have answers to issues important to them. Managing questioners and running a Q&A is important not just for staying focused on your topic, but also to create a level playing field for the entire audience. At the same time, shutting down questioners and refusing to engage won't win you fans, a key reason I like Emily's request for "graceful ways" to manage questioners. As with any extemporaneous part of your presentation, however, some forethought and planning are vital to your success. Here are some graceful options when you're handling a questioner:

Create a bridge between the question and the answer. Especially effective with an off-topic question, this tactic works just as well with queries in line with your points. It's a three-point movement: Acknowledge the question, then affirm or rebut, and explain why. One example: "I know there's a lot of debate on that point among practitioners in the field right now. In my experience, however, that option limits our ability to measure our results. That's why I recommend..." Or a simple acknowledgement: "That's a thorny issue, isn't it? Thanks for pointing that out" can do a lot to let the question stand as the point, instead of requiring you to respond. Using the bridge tactic also creates enough space to give you time to think - and gives the questioner some recognition of her issue, even though you're disagreeing.

Remind the audience of your focus today. "I wish I could delve into that topic - it'd take another session or two to cover." "I know that's a big issue, but my focus today is a small one - what to do before that happens." Don't be afraid to point out how your topic is juxtaposed to the one brought up.

Beware of argumentative questions... and deflect them. Sometimes, you'll have an outwardly hostile audience member whose questions aim to lead you into an argument. Don't bite. Instead, cultivate (through practice) a calm stance and a few graceful comebacks that help you acknowledge and move away from the fight and back to the Q&A. "If I could answer that, I'd be a millionaire," for example, is a mild but humorous way to deflect a question that asks you to define or fix something unknowable. "Where are the data you're basing that on?" helps to narrow down a question full of exaggerations and low on facts.

Acknowledge the persistence of the persistent questioner. You think you're distracted by the five-time questioner? So are the audience members trying to get a word in edgewise. I don't mind taking more than one question per person during a Q&A, but if you suspect you have someone wanting to dominate the conversation, it helps to say, "I'd like to give others the chance to participate. Let's talk afterwards - it's clear you have a lot to say." That acknowledgement helps the audience know YOU know there's a problem!

Breathe, smile and stay calm. That's your mantra during Q&A time, as you want to seem welcoming of questions as well as in control of their flow. Even when a pointed question comes up, your lack of over-reaction will help the entire audience sense that you're in calm control.