Putting the A in Q&A
August 6, 2024
There’s a classic scene on a minor league bus trip in the baseball movie Bull Durham. Pitching phenom “Nuke” LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins, is hungry for advice from “Crash” Davis, the veteran catcher played by Kevin Costner.
CRASH: “It’s time to work on your interviews.”
NUKE: “My interviews? What’do I gotta do?”
CRASH: “You’re gonna have to learn your cliches… they’re your friends.”
From there, Crash rattles off a list of answers that sports fans have heard a million times, like “one day at a time” and “just happy to be here” and “the good Lord willing, things will work out.”
I think we can all agree that using a cliché isn’t the best way to answer a question during an interview, a one-on-one conversation, or the Q-and-A finish to your next presentation. But hey… at least it’s an answer! Anyone who’s watched a political debate in the past five years has probably thought to themselves, “ANSWER THE QUESTION!!”
So how can we be better at answering questions? It begins with being better listeners. Too often in today’s busy, plate-spinning world, we fail to listen - actually listen - to what we’re being asked.
After that, it’s vitally important to answer or at least respond to each question before moving on to what’s important to you. Because those who ask you questions, like reporters, customers and co-workers, are far more willing to listen to YOUR messages, if you begin by answering THEIR questions.
In our Wixted & Company training sessions, our clients will ask, “Can’t I just say ‘no comment’ and be done with it?” You can, but let me ask YOU a question. What comes to mind when you read or hear someone say “no comment” in a news report or a team meeting? Most of us would wonder what they’re hiding!
Instead of being evasive or becoming defensive when answering questions, we recommend that you pause for a moment and remember that almost all questions can be answered in one of three ways:
1. I know that information, and here it is.
2. I know that information, but I’m not going to share it with you (because it’s private, proprietary or confidential).
3. And the hard one – I don’t know. I don’t know but I will find out and get back to you. I don’t know but we need to determine that. I don’t know but I will put you in touch with someone who can answer that question.
From there, it’s on to the key messages that YOU want to deliver to your question-asking stakeholders.
Wixted & Company Blog – by Jeff Johnson