The most important skill we can hone to communicate effectively in all types of presentations is the ability to answer questions clearly and concisely. To do so, we need to keep three words in mind: pause-answer-stop. Pause, answer the question asked (and only the question asked) and then stop talking.

This simple concept enables us to communicate effectively. The reason? The people receiving information get to ask questions directly related to their need to understand, which is something we can never predict. If they ask questions, they're interested. And they're engaged.

Regardless of whether you're answering questions during group presentations or one-on-one, there are a number of distinct advantages to pausing before answering. It's polite. You can think before responding. Thinking before talking is always a good thing.

You look confident when you pause. And you can listen more effectively because you're not thinking of the answer while the question's being asked.

When it comes to answering, when people ask a question in virtually any aspect of life, they're looking for one thing: the answer. If you ask me for the time, you don't want to know how my watch works.

In my experience, the vast majority of questions can be answered in ten words or less. In fact, in my training, I often introduce the 10-pushup rule. Participants get 10 words with which to answer any question they're asked. For every word beyond 10, they'll be asked to do 10 pushups per word at the end of their presentation.

When you've answered the question, stop talking. Allow the audience — whether it's one person or a group — to ask more questions. If they're interested, they'll ask. If not, move on, but keep giving them opportunities to ask.

Pause-answer-stop will improve your listening skills and help you become a better communicator. Your presentations will be more interesting and engaging. You'll achieve better understanding with your audience because the information is no longer yours. When they ask about it, the information becomes theirs — they've found a place for what you've said in their existing cognitive framework.

And that's when communication works.