Idea Playbook

Don’t Sweat Questions About Your Sports Event

By Kelly Watkins

Whether you are recruiting volunteers or making a sponsorship presentation, you will face questions about your sports event. You may be able to anticipate some questions in some instances, but you may still be caught off guard. When you’re caught off guard and unprepared, responding to questions can be tricky—often uncomfortable and even scary. Next time you’re hit with questions, try these seven strategies to handle questions calmly and confidently.

1. Before a presentation, make a list of the five most difficult questions you could be asked. For example, what are the top five objections a client could raise about your planning services? Write down your answer to each question; this will help prepare you so that you feel more confident.

2. Be receptive to questions. Your response to the first question will set the tone for other questions to follow. Don’t be defensive or rude, which could give the impression that you are inflexible and not service-oriented.

3. If you’re giving a formal speech to a group, always stand up straight and move into the audience for the Q&A session. This will help you to appear confident and eager to answer questions.

4. Be up front if the question requires a lengthy or complicated answer. Try to give a brief answer, but offer more details if necessary. This way, your attempt to keep things simple won’t be misinterpreted as dodging the question.

5. Disagree without seeming disagreeable. If someone disagrees with your answer, be respectful and courteous by stating, “I see how you might feel that way.”  Then, toss it back. “What can I do to reassure you?” 

Whenever there is a difference in opinion, don’t be afraid to defend your position. But at the same time, don’t become defensive. Use the difference in opinion to stimulate group discussion and other feedback on the issue.

6. Keep questions to a reasonable timeframe.  People may ramble when making a point or getting to their question. Be mindful of the time and don’t allow those asking the questions to encroach on the group’s time.

Interrupt tactfully, such as, “I appreciate your comments about last year’s marathon. Do you have a specific question?”  Or, “Thanks for the input. Now, who has a question about this year’s marathon?” 

If you’re giving a one-on-one sponsorship or sales presentation, this is different. Allow the person to comment or ask questions freely. You will learn more by listening anyway.

7. If you don’t know the answer, say so. Your listeners will respect that. Don’t stop there, though. Be proactive—offer to follow up once you’ve researched the answer or, if in a group setting, ask others for their suggestions or feedback.

Using these seven approaches to answering questions will help you to feel more confident. You may even find that the Q&A can be the most interesting and informative aspect of speaking and giving presentations. After all, questions provide opportunities to interact, to obtain feedback and to get to know the participants.

For presentation tips and other communication resources, contact Kelly Watkins at (812) 246-2424 or kelly@keepcustomers.com; www.keepcustomers.com.