Facing tough questions during a public speaking event?

I think the best is to treat it as a conversation... that the question comes stems from curiosity rather than an attempt to catch you out. Take your time.. slow it down and carefully consider your answer. Lastly, don't be afraid to so say that you don't know and invite the questioner to provide their thoughts. Use the question to start a conversation...

Whenever you are faced with a challenging question, whether in a public speaking event, interview, or in general conversation, don’t be afraid to pause for a moment to think about what you will say. A lot of people feel the need to answer immediately but taking the time to form your response is necessary to success. Now, I understand that you can’t just pause after a question, so it is important to use transition words to buy yourself a moment to think. Consider this: - That was a great question, give me a moment to think about it. Lastly, don’t be afraid to say that you don’t have the immediate answer to a question. No one is expected to be perfect or all knowing. Simply, take their contact details and get back to them with an answer.

Use the difficult questions as a learning opportunity. Never see them as a challenge, but rather, as a chance to reflect on your perspective. When you take a few moments to gather your thoughts, you are being intentional about your response and its consequences. If the situation allows you a certain degree of flexibility, I’d say that you could even engage back with the individual that asked the question, asking for clarity and their own thoughts. Challenging questions are always productively addressed best by deliberate dialogue.

First and foremost, don’t get overwhelmed by the occasion or the amount of people present. If the need for being right consumes you, you will be in a hurry to answer and will probably just wait for the other person to stop so that you can respond. This is hasty and a recipe for disaster as you have completely neglected the question and hampered your ability to answer it. Whenever a question is asked don’t just hear… ‘Listen’. Once the person stops speaking take 3-5 seconds and a deep breath for you to clearly see all aspects of that question. Then answer it to the best of your knowledge and ability.

- Listen carefully to the question and ensure you fully comprehend it. - Ask for clarification if needed to avoid misunderstandings. - Paraphrase the question to confirm your understanding before providing a response.

Clarifying questions is a crucial skill, particularly when addressing complex inquiries. It demonstrates that you take the question seriously and seek to understand it fully before responding. This approach ensures that you provide the most accurate and thoughtful answer possible. The last thing you want is to undermine your credibility or waste time by responding incorrectly based on assumptions. Taking a moment to clarify can safeguard your reputation and enhance the effectiveness of your communication.

Here's a concise, pointer-wise approach for handling questions during project management: 1. Understand the Question: Grasp the question fully before responding. Seek clarification if needed. 2. Paraphrase Back: Confirm understanding by restating the question in your own words. This helps organize your thoughts. 3. Effective Communication: Prioritize clarity and accuracy in your response. Remember, effective communication is crucial in project management!

Let's explore a different angle. When faced with unfamiliar questions during public speaking, consider the "Bridge Technique." Here's how it works: 1. Acknowledge the Question: Start by acknowledging the question. Say something like, "That's an interesting point/question." 2. Bridge to a Related Topic: Skillfully transition to a related topic that you're more comfortable with. For eg., "While I don't have specific data on that, let's discuss a related aspect.." 3. Deliver Value: Use this redirection to provide valuable insights or share relevant experiences. Remember, public speaking is about connecting with your audience, and the Bridge Technique helps you navigate uncharted waters gracefully! 🌟🎙️

Integrity is important in life and in leadership. Most people are hungry for and appreciate the truth. They don’t want things to be sugar coated and don’t want you to guess. Don’t go along with the crown because that’s what you think they want to hear. Tell them the truth whether it’s a popular stance or not. If you know the answer, tell them and if you don’t know, do not be afraid to say “I don’t know”. Get the answer and get back with them if possible. It allows people to feel like they matter and you care enough to be thinking about what they asked. If you are honest with people, they will appreciate it and what you said will more than likely stick with them better. People want the truth.

Empathy and make feel the audience that you feel and suffer the consequences of the speech with the people you are talking. Is the only way to create credibility.

Public speaking can definitely throw some curveballs our way, especially when tough questions come up. One thing I've learned is that honesty really is the best policy in these situations. When you hit a question you can’t answer, it’s tempting to try to bluff your way through. But trust me, that can backfire and hurt your credibility. Instead, just own it! Acknowledge that you don’t have the info right now and offer to follow up later. This not only shows integrity but also opens up a chance for a deeper connection with the person who asked. People appreciate when you’re upfront.

When I was a track and basketball coach I told my athletes that perfect preparation prevents poor performance. Know your subject, put in the work. I believe that I am invited to speak as an expert on the subject matter. Those that know me would agree that I enjoy what I do and am passionate about the topic. Simply said, have fun

Negative comments should be countered with, (here is why the topic matters ) you have a right to your opinion. Next question! Personally, after 28 years in elected office the thought was really don't have time to waste Unnecessarily and achieve nothing but loss time in moving in a forward manner!!!

I've found that acknowledging the question’s validity and steering the conversation toward a positive outcome not only demonstrates your control of the situation but also fosters an engaging and thoughtful dialogue. You should try using rhetorical questions and analogies to help refocus the conversation. This technique, helps to maintain a positive atmosphere and keeps the discussion moving forward.

- If the question is challenging or off-topic, steer the conversation back to your main points. - Bridge to a related topic that aligns with your key message. - Use the opportunity to highlight your expertise and reinforce your credibility.

Examples are a powerful tool when explaining complex topics. When you can relate a theory or explanation to a case study or example, people tend to follow the example and grasp the subject better.

Story telling is a great way to make your points relatable to your audience. It provides practical insights to complex issues. I have also found that infusing personal stories makes your presentation more memorable and gives you more credibility. The audience won’t remember the Top 3 list on your slide deck, but they will remember the case study example story you used- especially if it has a touch of tasteful humor or an outcome that was impactful to drive a point home. I still occasionally have my previous attendees come up to me at conferences to relay back stories I told back in 2016. They want to tell me about similar experiences they have had, which even further solidifies and validates the importance of what they learned.

One of the powerful tool I use is Stories. Story can sell anything. In tough situations, always pull out stories if you can. If not, tell your own stories. As a public speaker, you have to have some sort of anchor story you can tell about yourself anytime. It’s a life saver. It has saved me many times.

Having handled over 600+ stages, I’ve encountered my fair share of tough questions. Here is my practicing strategy I’ve found effective in navigating these challenging moments: Leverage Examples: Use real-life examples or anecdotes to illustrate your points. This makes your answers more relatable and easier to understand.

As a trainer, mentor or coach make reading on your subject a part of your daily routine. We owe to our audience! Listen carefully to the question with a calm mind and then answer the same with best of your abilities, also share examples or analogies to infuse clarity in your answer. Maintain a positive tone while answering the questions and most importantly be honest & transparent about what you know & don’t know.

A valuable byproduct of good practice is ‘knowing’ your subject matter. When the speaker has a decent command over his/her topic, the ability to respond of the cuff is possible. Additionally, one’s ability to be persuasive and ultimately winning over his/her audience requires confidence in what he/she knows.

Take up musical performance--learn to sing or play an instrument. Memorize your piece and play in front of people. After that, public speaking is a piece of cake.

Practice answering tough questions with your team in advance. Surprises are rare because we already know the challenges. We conduct a "tough questions" exercise, where we brainstorm likely questions and develop thoughtful answers together. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know." It's okay not to know everything. You can also say, "Great question. Thank you for that. I'm not sure of the answer, but I promise I'll find out and have an answer by our next meeting." Your audience expects you to be human.

If you don’t practice with your team and let them challenge you then bad things will happen. Fail within the team and laugh and say you got me good. That will prevent that from happening later.