You've been thrown off by a tough question during your speech. How do you regain your confidence?
Encountering a challenging question during a speech can be unsettling, but it’s important to maintain your composure and address it effectively. Here’s how you can regain your confidence:
What strategies have helped you handle tough questions during a speech?
You've been thrown off by a tough question during your speech. How do you regain your confidence?
Encountering a challenging question during a speech can be unsettling, but it’s important to maintain your composure and address it effectively. Here’s how you can regain your confidence:
What strategies have helped you handle tough questions during a speech?
-
Never be afraid to park some questions for later follow up. Acknowledging that you don't have a complete answer, or don't know, and would rather circle back with them is valid. No one has every answer or can prepare for every question. Clarify and take note for later follow up or side bar. Then trust your preparation and make sure you're covering your main points and keeping on topic and on track with your planned talk.
-
My standard responses, depending on the type of question: "That's a great question, and one I don't have a good answer for. I will look into it and get back to you." "I hadn't considered that aspect/point/perspective. Let me make a note to look into that further." Then pause to write down the question if you have a podium. While you're writing... or with a "where was I" filler... take a couple of deep breaths, find your place in your presentation, then pick up where you left off. It's okay to not know everything or have covered every base. It's NOT okay to try to fake it. If you have a persistent heckler, invite them to have a private discussion with you after you're done, with a "I need to finish this talk" explanation.
-
It's largley dependant on what makes the question "tough" or "challenging". If it's lack of knowledge, tough because you don't know the answer, be honest. It's okay to admit you don't know the answer and need to "get back to" someone and redirect the discusssion to areas you're confident in talking about.
-
If you are suddenly thrown off by a question the key is to stay calm. Don't panic and take a deep breath. Its ok to take a short pause to process the question. If you are unsure of the question and need clarity paraphrase the question for the person who asked it. This not only shows respect but also buys you a little more time to phrase a response. When you respond, give your answer in a calm, confident and concise manner by maintaining open body language - stand tall, with shoulders back and a very centered posture. Once you respond its polite to ask something like - "did that answer your question"? If you don't know the response its ok to say you will find out and get back.
-
Sincerely, I will admit that I do not know much about it and will seek out another forum to discuss it. It is not required to be knowledgeable about everything. Honnesty is always the best policy. If not, I will attempt to get additional information from the audience.