Business Pitch: Responding To Questions and Handling Things When They Go Wrong
No matter how well you plan your presentation, things can go wrong or people can ask you challenging questions.
Unexpected questions and glitches can throw you off your talk if you get flustered. On the other hand, they provide opportunities to demonstrate how calm, confident, and skillful you are. Many a business presentation outcome has been determined by how the presenter handled it when things went wrong.
Here are some examples.
¦ That’s a good question, George. I don’t have those figures in my head, but if you can wait until the end of the presentation, I’ll check my notes to make sure I give you exact numbers.
¦ (You’re caught making a logical error.) You know, Jack, you are right that we didn’t take that into account, so these numbers will be off by about 10 percent. I apologize, and we’ll modify the planning document and get you revised copies by 5:00 this afternoon.
¦ Oops! Obviously the graphic isn’t showing properly on the screen, so let me direct you to page 4 in your handout, and we’ll work from the graphic there.
¦ (You notice a big coffee stain on your shirt.) And if anyone needs more coffee, let me know, since I’ve apparently brought some extra. (Point to your shirt—and then just ignore the stain.)
¦ I’m very sorry for being late. I know you are all very busy, so I’ll try to stay within the time allotted. 54 Perfect Phrases for Managing Your Small Business
¦ I want to make sure the numbers I give you are accurate, so before I continue, let’s take a quick stretch break for five minutes while I consult my notes. (You can use this if you become flustered or lost.)
¦ Mary, I don’t know the answer to your question, and I don’t have those numbers in the business plan.As soon as I’m finished here, I’ll call my partner and get them for you within an hour of the end of our meeting. Is that OK?
