The easy way to handle difficult questions and enhance your credibility

Nobody knows it all... not even UltraMind Instructors. When Jose Silva didn't have an answer, he would say, "Could be."

The best answer I ever heard in a class came from Dr. Hahn, the first scientist who came out in support of Jose, and one of our best and favorite instructors. I was sitting in on a Graduate Lecture Series in Atlanta. When I got there, he had introduced me as a lecturer, so everybody knew that. Usually I wouldn't take class time to ask questions, but I had a question that I just couldn't hold, so I asked him.

He looked at me across the room, paused, then said: "I don't know."

That's the first time I had ever heard that answer in a Silva class! I loved it. It satisfied me completely. Tremendous credibility.

After that, I made it a point to be sure to say, "I don't know," at least once in every class I taught.

After a few classes, I realized that I was saying it a lot more than once, and that there really wasn't any need for me to find an excuse to say it... there were more than enough genuine opportunities.

What I would say, of course, is: "I don't know. Let's think about it a bit, and maybe an answer will come."

Or, "I don't know, but I will find out and let you know. I will call our researchers at the home office, and that way I will be sure to give you the correct information."

There are many very good - and valid - strategies for dealing with difficult questions.

For instance, when somebody wants to get into a discussion of cause and effect... is it real... evidence for and against... I use a line that somebody had... I think he taught in Malaysia at the time: "If you want to know Why it works, that's a job for a university to go figure out. If you want to use the technique to help you correct problems, that's what I teach." Then we'd move on with the practical aspects.

It is always good to acknowledge their questions:

"That is a very good question. Let me come back to it in a few minutes." That buys you some time to think about it. And you will be surprised how often the answer will come to you after a few minutes.

One instructor used to say, at the beginning of the course, that questions were welcome, but that "Some people are more interested in an audience than an answer." Then he would continue, "If you notice that I am getting involved in a discussion with just one person, please call it to my attention and I will stop."

Probably the best way to answer a question that you don't know the answer to is to say something like this:

"That is a very good question. I want to make sure that I give you the answer you need, so I am going to contact the researchers at the home office and get their answer, and I will provide it to you."

If you get distracted...

And if you ever forget what you were talking about... forget that very important point you wanted to make... which sometimes happens after you answer a question... there is a very easy way to get back on track:

Just ask if anybody has a question.

Most of the time, somebody will ask you a question that reminds you of what you wanted to say next, and you are right back in the groove.

Put your participants first

The most important thing is... never let it throw you. After all, it is not you who is important. The people who are important are your students, you are there to serve, not to try to impress them.

Do whatever you must do to help them, even if it means admitting that you are not perfect, that you do not know everything, that sometimes you even have questions yourself. It will build great rapport, and you will be able to do a much better job of serving them and helping them to succeed.