If you’re sitting in an audience at an event, you might think your voice doesn’t matter if you’re not the one on stage.
But here’s the thing: asking a question as an audience member? It’s an underrated speaker superpower.
Whether you’re new to speaking or seasoned on the mic, putting your hand up in the Q&A is a brilliant opportunity to use your voice intentionally, explore how it feels in a new environment, and connect with other speakers (and yourself) in a deeper way.
Why asking questions is such a win-win
Let’s break it down.
✔️ You gain knowledge from the speaker – amazing, every day is a school day!
✔️ You get a wee moment of connection with them – super duper.
✔️ You practise speaking in front of strangers – now we’re really talking.
And that last point is gold dust, especially if you’re someone looking to build confidence in your voice.
Ooh, and if you’re speaker later on at the event, the audience gets to tune into your voice and accent before you’re big moment which is an extra bonus.
For newer speakers…
It’s the perfect way to test the waters. You’ll start to notice how your body feels in the build-up to speaking – the breath, the nerves, the little rush before you speak. That self-awareness is key to developing your unique vocal toolkit for public speaking.
For experienced speakers…
It’s a chance to practise forming clear, succinct questions on the spot (which is much trickier than it sounds – we’ve all heard those rambly audience Qs, right?). You also get to experience how your voice feels and sounds in a new space – useful info you can take forward into your own talks.
A little story…
I was recently hosting a panel at a Cluarantonn Podcast Services event about AI in podcasting (yes, it was as juicy as it sounds).
Before my turn to speak, I asked a question to each panellist. It helped me warm up my voice and brain, and it gave the audience a moment to tune in to my vocal style before I officially took the mic. That’s especially handy if you’ve got a distinctive accent or vocal personality – a sort of soft intro for everyone’s ears.
So next time you’re in the audience, don’t sit in silence. Asking a question doesn’t just benefit the speaker – it’s a golden moment for you too. Use it to explore, experiment, and enjoy using your voice in the room.
(Oh, and shout out to Gavin Forster 📷⚡🎓 for the candid snap of me in action!)
