Chapter 15
On the Spot: Fielding Difficult Questions and Delivering Bad News
IN THIS CHAPTER
Dealing with difficult people
Handling questions like a pro
Choosing the right approach when conveying bad news
A successful [person] is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at [them].”
–DAVID BRINKLEY, AMERICAN NEWSCASTER FOR NBC AND ABC
Most audiences will be cheering you on; however, occasionally there’ll be a person who’ll throw you a curve ball (fortunately, not as harmful as a brick). And on rare occasions, you may have a contrarian in the audience. You know the type. If you put them in a room alone they’d argue with themselves. While it’s difficult to deal with cranky people — and thank goodness they’re rare — it’s important to stay calm, be professional, and never take it personally.
This chapter walks you through dealing with disagreeable people, fielding difficult questions while keeping your cool, and delivering and owning bad news.
Dealing with Grinches
All presenters discover that things don’t always go as hoped. Sometimes you’ll face tricky questions that catch you off guard. Other times, someone asks antagonistic questions meant to incite ...
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