289 Handling Audience Incoming Missiles

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">We have probably all been on the receiving end of it or have been a witness to it. The presentation is completed, after which come the questions; some are fact finding, some seek clarification, while some are just plain really nasty.</span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span> <span lang="EN-US" xml:lang= "EN-US">Perhaps the questioner is not trying to be mean, but the result is the same. All eyes in the room burn a hole into you the speaker, as everyone breathlessly waits to see how you are going to handle this incoming missile, that is thinly disguised as a question.</span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang= "EN-US"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Some presenters splutter, nervousness sapping intellectual and verbal powers, while some give such a pathetic response we can see their credibility sail right out the window as they speak. Some get angry, assuring everyone there that they are not fit for higher responsibilities, because they clearly can’t control their emotions.</span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang= "EN-US"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Do these questions come up? Yes, so there is no point imagining that we won’t have to face the meeting room moment of truth.  It could be from an ambitious colleague, elbows out, trying to push past you to get the top job.  It could be from a member of the board, totally underwhelmed by what you have said, or from a member of the audience, who takes umbrage at your line of thinking.</span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Do we usually prepare properly beforehand, in the event that someone might decide to go after us? In 99% of cases the answer is “no”. The missile catches us off guard and we simply flounder.  Trying to think on your feet, when your brain is on fire from nervousness is very hard.  We put ourselves in harm’s way unnecessarily.</span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang= "EN-US"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><spa