Jennifer McClure

Practicing in advance will definitely help speakers to improve Q&A responses. As part of this practice, speakers should: 1) Anticipate Questions: Research common queries about the topic and prepare concise answers. 2) Utilize Active Listening Techniques: Confirm understanding with the audience member before responding. 3) Stay Calm: Maintain composure to think clearly. If you don't know, say that. If you want to research the question and provide an answer later, share how the questioner can get in touch with you to follow up. 4) Seek Feedback: Conduct mock Q&As with colleagues. 5) Review: After presentations, reflect on answers and areas of improvement. Practice makes perfect; consistency is key!

Yes, anticipate some questions in advance, and ensure that you have an understanding of how you would answer them. Always repeat the question back to the audience member to confirm that you have heard and understood the question. If more clarification is needed, as for it, rather than assume and ramble. Your response to questions should be direct and concise. If more than a couple of minutes is needed, then I would suggest inviting the audience member to connect with you afterward for further conversation, or telling the audience that you'll share your full answer on your blog, LinkedIn profile, or somewhere online, where they can all access the information.

After a public failure or mistake that wasn't consistent with your personal brand, it's important to be intentional about rebuilding trust and re-establishing behaviors that are consistent with what you have communicated your brand to be. It will take time, but if you consistently demonstrate changed behavior and uphold your commitments, then your community will likely believe that you were sincere in your apology, and the action steps you outlined that you would take to correct or not repeat your error. It's also important to maintain open channels for feedback and dialogue. Understand that not all feedback will be pleasant, but if you handle it with grace and empathy, that can go a long way in rebuilding trust as well.

If you/your company made a mistake, it's important to apologize quickly and sincerely. Remember that an effective apology isn't saying something like "I'm sorry if anyone was offended," because that abdicates any responsibility you may bear. An effective apology includes the following: Acknowledgment: Recognize and admit the specific wrongdoing. Sincerity: Express genuine remorse. Understanding: Demonstrate awareness of the harm caused. Responsibility: Accept responsibility without excuses. Restitution: Offer solutions or ways to make amends. Commitment: Pledge not to repeat the mistake. ALWAYS get someone else (comms team, trusted collleagues, etc. to review your apology before delivered to see if it conveys the message you want.

To build your Personal Brand, it's important for you to understand and connect with the audience that you're serving. What are the challenges that they're facing? What are opportunities that they could be taking advantage of? What problems do they need to solve? By engaging in discussions with your community on platforms they frequent (like LinkedIn), and offering insights or solutions based on your expertise adds value, and also builds relationships. Responding quickly and being consistent with your presence can also foster trust and build rapport. By consistently delivering valuable content - posts, articles, videos, etc. and sharing your personal experiences you'll be able to learn from others, as well as strengthen your Personal Brand.

It's important to be authentic and relatable when sharing your Personal Brand. How you got started in your career, or interested in the areas your passionate about can be important for helping newer folks to relate. Also sharing challenges you have faced, how you overcame (or are overcoming) them, and the results you've achieved can be inspiring and also help you to connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges. Regularly update your story to reflect growth, achievements, and your evolution. Always remember that offering tangible insights and value to your audience establishes trust and can highlight your unique position in your field.