Caught off guard with a tough question? We’ve all been there.
One minute the conversation is flowing, the next you’re thinking, “Well… that’s a good question.” Followed by that awkward pause, the racing thoughts, the “why didn’t I see that coming?” moment. It happens to everyone, no matter how experienced or capable you are.
A single unexpected question can momentarily derail you, or it could become an opportunity to demonstrate calm, credibility, and presence. How you respond in that moment is critical. The trick isn’t having a brilliant answer ready all the time but knowing how to respond with ease. An assured presence, a little pause, and the right approach can go a long way.
Here are five simple strategies to help you deal with tough questions without breaking your stride, or your confidence.
1. Acknowledge the question
- “That’s a great question. Let me think about the best way to answer it.”
- “That’s an important point. Let me take a me a moment to consider it.”
- “Good Catch. Let me explain…”
- “I appreciate the question. Let me step back and reframe the explanation…”
2. Clarify or narrow down
- “To make sure I’m answering what matters most, are you mainly asking about x or y?”
- “So I’m clear, you’re asking about x, is that right?”
- “Can I check that I’ve understood? You’re asking whether we can x?”
- “If I understand you correctly, you’re mainly concerned about…?”
3. Buy time to think
- “That’s an important question. Let me take a moment to consider the best way to answer it.”
- “Good question. Let me organise my thoughts for a second.”
- “Let me think about that for a moment so I can be precise.”
- “Got it. I’ll take a second to pull my thoughts together.”
- “Let me take a moment to consider the implications before I answer.”
4. Postpone the response
- “I don’t have that level of detail at hand. I suggest I confirm it after the meeting and circulate a short note.”
- “I want to be accurate on that. With your permission, I’ll verify the details and share it with you this afternoon.”
- “That’s a fair question. Rather than speculate, I’ll come back with a written response by Friday.”
5. Redirect to someone else
- “For the technical detail I’ll ask x to comment, and then I’ll come back to…”
- “I’ll let x speak to that aspect, then I can outline how …”