Quick answers
- How do I handle a question I can't answer?
- 'I'll follow up with you after the call.'
Key takeaways
- Answer directly when you know.
- Buy time: 'Let me get back to you.'
- Deflect to the right person.
- Ask for clarification if needed.
Instead of → Say
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| I don't know | I don't have that handy. I'll follow up with you after the call. |
| That's not my job | That's more in [Name]'s wheelhouse. [Name], can you take that? |
| Good question | Good question. Short answer: [X]. I can go deeper offline. |
| Can we move on? | Let's take that offline so we don't run over. I'll add it to the doc. |
Example dialogue
Teammate: When will staging be ready?
You: I'll have an update by EOD. I'll Slack you.
Teammate: What about the API?
You: That's on Jake. Jake, can you answer that?
Common mistakes
- Rambling when you don't know.
- Ignoring the question.
Frequently asked questions
- What if I don't know the answer?
- 'I don't have that handy. I'll follow up after the call.'
- How do I deflect a question?
- 'That's more [Name]'s area. [Name], can you take that?'
Related
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