The questions are where credibility is won.
Direct answer
For Q&A, listen to the whole question, pause, repeat or rephrase it if the room needs it, answer briefly and check you have addressed it. If you do not know, say so and promise a follow-up. Stay calm with hostile questions.
Steps
- Prepare the ten hardest questions.
- Listen fully without interrupting.
- Pause before answering.
- Answer in one to three sentences, then offer detail.
- Bridge back to your main message.
- Close with a summary.
Tricky situations
| Situation | Response |
|---|---|
| Do not know | "I do not know. I will find out and get back to you by Friday." |
| Hostile | acknowledge, answer the fact, move on |
| Rambling question | "Let me check I have it: you are asking about X?" |
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's Speak Like a CEO course turns this into short lessons you can play in a few minutes a day. It has 50 lessons, and you can start free.
The bottom line
Be honest, brief and calm.
