Difficult or unfamiliar questions

Admit "I don't know" with professionalism.

The fear of not knowing the answer to a question is one of the greatest sources of anxiety for a speaker, but managing this situation defines your true credibility. It is impossible to have infinite encyclopedic knowledge.

If a question arises for which you have no answer, under no circumstances should you invent or improvise false data.

The public has a very fine radar for dishonesty, and being caught in a lie instantly destroys the reputation built up during the entire talk. The most professional response is honesty.

Quietly admitting "I don't have that specific piece of information at this time" or "That area is beyond the scope of my technical expertise" does not detract from authority; on the contrary, it reinforces the speaker's honesty.

For example, if a technician is asked about a legal issue, it is valid to say, "My expertise is not legal, and I prefer not to give you inaccurate information." Honest vulnerability is much more respectable than ignorant arrogance.

Commit to seeking the answer and support from the public.

Not knowing the answer does not mean leaving the attendee without a solution. The right strategy is to turn "I don't know" into a commitment to service.

The speaker should offer to research the information and send it later by e-mail or address it in a future session.

This demonstrates responsibility and care for the audience. Another effective tactic is to draw on collective intelligence.

If the speaker does not know the answer, he or she can redirect the question to the audience, "Does anyone in the room have experience with this specific case?" Often, there are experts in the audience who can provide value.

This not only resolves the doubt, but energizes the session and values the knowledge of the attendees, taking pressure o