actions make this strategy very powerful. It is not trying to put up a “smoke screen”. What we want to do is to show that we too want to learn more and in the process impress the audience.

3. Tit for Tat

Ok, what I mean by Tit for Tat is that you answer the question with another question. Yes! Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer. Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response. Questions like "What do you gain by knowing this?" "What is your objective with this que

There are times during a presentation when you really do not know the answer to a question posed to you. What do you do? Do you look at the person with killer eyes? Do you sweat and say errrrr…

At this moment, the key is to be honest. However, admitting, “I don't know”, in response to a direct question from the audience can ruin you immediately. What we want to do is to maintain credibility and integrity. Remember, no one can know the answer to every question. The audience does understand. It is how such situation is handled that separates great presenters from the amateurs. I have identified the following seven strategies that you can follow to handle even the toughest questions with confidence. In Part 1 article, I will touch on three of them.

1. Toss it Back

Repeat the question again and toss it back to your audience, “Good question. Anyone here have any experience with that?” When you allow the audience to help you, they will save you without ever realizing it. This is not passing the buck but tapping on the knowledge and energy of the audience. Besides from experience, the audience loves this because they like to get involved and for some they love to show off their knowledge. After getting the contributions from the audience, make sure you summarize the discussion. Always always add your own ideas so that you continue to portray as the expert in that topic (you should use the short moments when the audience are airing their insights to quickly churn out ideas). If its done properly, it will help you maintain control and authority.

2. Let me check and get back to you

This is the most common saver and it works well if you do three things. First, write the question down. Show them. Make sure everyone knows you are writing the question down. Second, tell the questioner exactly when you will get back to them. Give them the exact time and date. Can you get back to them by the end of the day? Can you get back to them after lunch? You must and I stress, you must get back to them at your promised date and time. Or else there goes your credibility. Third, be sure to get the questioner’s contact information if you don’t have it. Again, write it down and make sure everyone sees it. These three actions make this strategy very powerful. It is not trying to put up a “smoke screen”. What we want to do is to show that we too want to learn more and in the process impress the audience.

3. Tit for Tat

Ok, what I mean by Tit for Tat is that you answer the question with another question. Yes! Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer. Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response. Questions like "What do you gain by knowing this?" "What is your objective with this ques

ers from the amateurs. I have identified the following seven strategies that you can follow to handle even the toughest questions with confidence. In Part 1 article, I will touch on three of them.

1. Toss it Back

Repeat the question again and toss it back to your audience, “Good question. Anyone here have any experience with that?” When you allow the audience to help you, they will save you without ever realizing it. This is not passing the buck but tapping on the knowledge and energy of the audience. Besides from experience, the audience loves this because they like to get involved and for some they love to show off their knowledge. After getting the contributions from the audience, make sure you summarize the discussion. Always always add your own ideas so that you continue to portray as the expert in that topic (you should use the short moments when the audience are airing their insights to quickly churn out ideas). If its done properly, it will help you maintain control and authority.

2. Let me check and get back to you

This is the most common saver and it works well if you do three things. First, write the question down. Show them. Make sure everyone knows you are writing the question down. Second, tell the questioner exactly when you will get back to them. Give them the exact time and date. Can you get back to them by the end of the day? Can you get back to them after lunch? You must and I stress, you must get back to them at your promised date and time. Or else there goes your credibility. Third, be sure to get the questioner’s contact information if you don’t have it. Again, write it down and make sure everyone sees it. These three actions make this strategy very powerful. It is not trying to put up a “smoke screen”. What we want to do is to show that we too want to learn more and in the process impress the audience.

3. Tit for Tat

Ok, what I mean by Tit for Tat is that you answer the question with another question. Yes! Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer. Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response. Questions like "What do you gain by knowing this?" "What is your objective with this que

his because they like to get involved and for some they love to show off their knowledge. After getting the contributions from the audience, make sure you summarize the discussion. Always always add your own ideas so that you continue to portray as the expert in that topic (you should use the short moments when the audience are airing their insights to quickly churn out ideas). If its done properly, it will help you maintain control and authority.

2. Let me check and get back to you

This is the most common saver and it works well if you do three things. First, write the question down. Show them. Make sure everyone knows you are writing the question down. Second, tell the questioner exactly when you will get back to them. Give them the exact time and date. Can you get back to them by the end of the day? Can you get back to them after lunch? You must and I stress, you must get back to them at your promised date and time. Or else there goes your credibility. Third, be sure to get the questioner’s contact information if you don’t have it. Again, write it down and make sure everyone sees it. These three actions make this strategy very powerful. It is not trying to put up a “smoke screen”. What we want to do is to show that we too want to learn more and in the process impress the audience.

3. Tit for Tat

Ok, what I mean by Tit for Tat is that you answer the question with another question. Yes! Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer. Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response. Questions like "What do you gain by knowing this?" "What is your objective with this que

ings. First, write the question down. Show them. Make sure everyone knows you are writing the question down. Second, tell the questioner exactly when you will get back to them. Give them the exact time and date. Can you get back to them by the end of the day? Can you get back to them after lunch? You must and I stress, you must get back to them at your promised date and time. Or else there goes your credibility. Third, be sure to get the questioner’s contact information if you don’t have it. Again, write it down and make sure everyone sees it. These three actions make this strategy very powerful. It is not trying to put up a “smoke screen”. What we want to do is to show that we too want to learn more and in the process impress the audience.

3. Tit for Tat

Ok, what I mean by Tit for Tat is that you answer the question with another question. Yes! Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer. Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response. Questions like "What do you gain by knowing this?" "What is your objective with this que

actions make this strategy very powerful. It is not trying to put up a “smoke screen”. What we want to do is to show that we too want to learn more and in the process impress the audience.

3. Tit for Tat

Ok, what I mean by Tit for Tat is that you answer the question with another question. Yes! Sometimes questions are too narrow or too general to answer. Reserve the right, as the expert, to open a question up or close it down by asking a question in response. Questions like "What do you gain by knowing this?" "What is your objective with this question? If you require a certain function, product, (fill in the blanks), I can help you in this way". Such questions normally diffuse that difficult moment you are facing.