- Founder to Thought Leader
- Posts
- Audience question got you stumped?
Audience question got you stumped?
What to say when you don't know the answer to a question š§
Try this...
Own Your āIgnorance!ā
What do you mean?!
Audiences are far more likely to respect and trust you if youāre honest. Blagging your way through an answer in an attempt to save face will not fool anyone.
So what should I do instead?
Step 1: Take a pause āøļø
Take a moment to process the question (in fact, do this after every question you're asked). Not only does this buy you time, it helps the questioner to feel heard.
Donāt believe me? Watch this š
Steve Jobs took 6 seconds to pause before answering this heckle. Notice how the longer he paused the greater his authority?
Step 2: Own Your āIgnoranceā š¤·
There is power in admitting you donāt have all the answers. So deliver these three words confidently and without an apology:
āI donāt knowā¦
Step 3: Offer a path forward š£ļø
The path forward is why you can feel confident. Here are three routes you can take in this situation:
ā¦ but hereās what I do knowā¦ā
ā¦ but I bet thereās someone in the room who doesā¦ā
ā¦ but Iāll get you an answer by close of play today.ā
Why does this work?
This isnāt a cross-examination. Admitting the gaps in your knowledge not only makes you more authentic, it makes you more relatable too.
Bonus tip:
Every question youāre asked will deliver an important insight into the wants and needs of your audience. Approach them with curiosity. Think of them as an opportunity to learn.
Found this newsletter useful? Share this link with others!
Alex
Whenever you're ready, here are some ways I can help:
Looking to increase your speaking fees? Take part in The MicDrop Open Speaker Fee ProjectĀ šø.
Struggling to communicate your value at work? Grab a copy of my book, Make It CountĀ š.
Delivering talks at conferences and companies? Join my community for thought leaders that speak, MicDropĀ š¤.
Want me to equip your team with the ability to communicate their ideas with impact? Book a call here āļø.
What do you think of my new newsletter format? |