Page 200 - The New Articulate Executive_ Look, Act and Sound Like a Leader

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THE ART OF Q&A

deally, you should be as facile and engaging in your prepared
Itext delivery as you are in your question-and-answer (Q&A)
period afterward. But it’s more likely that you will feel more com-
fortable and judge yourself more competent in Q&A. Since Q&A
may in fact be your strongest suit, it only makes sense to strengthen
whatever aptitude you already bring to the party. Here are some
guidelines you should keep in mind.

Be alert—don’t relax after the formal speech. Businesspeople are
constantly confronted with questions. Some of those questions can
be hostile, depending on sensitive or controversial issues in the work-
place, prevalence of sexual harassment, equal opportunity, women
and minority representation, animal testing, toxic waste, air and
water pollution, or white-collar crime, for example. So don’t get
caught off guard. Be prepared—even for the worst. And remember
that the Q&A encounter is actually an opportunity to redeem the
situation if you feel things have not gone particularly well during
the formal presentation.
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If you are concerned about getting the ball rolling, station a “plant”
in the audience to ask the fi rst question.
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