It\u2019s not often that a business audience will go negative on you, but it happens. Here\u2019s how to stay in\u00a0control of your listeners and yourself:<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Prepare key messages for your talk so you can find your way back to those messages when the\u00a0tough questions start making you feel lost.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Listen to the question carefully. Take your time formulating a response. If you\u2019re not sure\u00a0exactly what the person is after, ask for clarification: \u201cAre you asking why the price went down,\u00a0or who was involved in the negotiation?\u201d<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Focus your eyes on the questioner while she is asking the question, and while you are thinking\u00a0about your response. Do not allow yourself to pace up and down while listening, and do not\u00a0withdraw your eyes from them while thinking. Lack of eye contact<\/a> may be interpreted as lack of\u00a0respect, and lack of certainty about your answer. You should also speak directly into the eyes of\u00a0the questioner when you begin your response.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0However\u2014and here\u2019s the real gist of taking control<\/a>\u2014once you\u2019ve spoken directly into the\u00a0eyes of the questioner for a few seconds (to show them you\u2019re not afraid), move your eyes to\u00a0connect with other people in the room. In fact, turn your body away from the first questioner. \u00a0Spend a few Mississippis with each person you look at, and then, when you end your response\u00a0to the original tough question, keep your eyes focused on a friendlier face. You\u2019ll be tempted\u00a0to look back at the original tough guy to get his approval, but don\u2019t do it. Don\u2019t give him that\u00a0power. Stay focused on the person you\u2019re looking at\u2014the friendly person. In this way, you\u00a0invite that person to ask a question, and you make it harder for the tough questioner to ask a\u00a0follow-up question.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0This technique will feel awkward at first, because we are in the habit of ceding power to the\u00a0questioners in our lives\u2014teachers, judges, parents. You must abandon such childish behaviors\u00a0and act as if your answer is perfectly fine, that in fact it\u2019s time to move on to another question. \u00a0Of course, the negative questioner may ask a follow up question, at which point you can turn to\u00a0him, diplomatically respond, and once again move your eyes and body to focus on others, and\u00a0end on someone else.<\/p>\n

These physical techniques<\/a> are not a panacea. You must know the strengths and weaknesses of\u00a0your position, and rehearse your responses before you present at a meeting where you anticipate\u00a0controversy. But even if you have all the right answers and feel perfectly in charge, you still should learn\u00a0how to use your eyes, and your body language, to control negative questioners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s not often that a business audience will go negative on you, but it happens. Here\u2019s how to stay in\u00a0control of your listeners and yourself: 1. \u00a0Prepare key messages for your talk so you can find your way back to those messages when the\u00a0tough questions start making you feel lost. 2. \u00a0Listen to the question… Read More »How to control negative questioners<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":""},"categories":[960,144,149,1],"tags":[618,145,146,608,117,300,904],"yoast_head":"\n