3 TIPS TO STAY IN CONTROL WHEN FACING TOUGH AUDIENCE QUESTIONS

It’s not uncommon to find yourself in front of an audience that is asking tough questions if you’re leading through business challenges and issues.

If you find yourself in this situation, here are 3 Proven Tips to Stay Calm and In Control:

✅ 1️⃣ Prior to walking on stage, its important you have the self-awareness to understand the daily struggles of your audience and anticipate the tough questions.  Take the time to brainstorm tough questions and potential responses to help remove the element of surprise.

✅ 2️⃣ Depending on the tone and difficulty of the question, you may want to consider prioritizing your audience’s needs over your leadership talking points, so your answer doesn’t feel rushed or dismissive.  Having the ability to adapt and move away from your “canned” talking points shows humility and sensitivity to your discerning audience.

✅ 3️⃣ To stay in control, repeat the question, acknowledge that you understand the reason for the question, and provide as much information as you factually can.  Invite the audience member to meet you afterwards for a more detailed follow up if appropriate.