In media training, we help spokespeople make the most of every question and answer. Know this: Time is on your side. It’s better to pause and think than to be jump in with an answer that’s unclear or you later regret.

Clarity is critical. It’s good for leaders and organizations and it’s good for audiences. And I don’t need to scrunch my right eye up. Everybody wins.

Repeat questions can make a spokesperson or subject feel doubted and defensive. The best way to prevent them? Clarity.

If you found yourself pulled into the journey of the Artemis II mission in recent weeks, almost as if by a gravitational-like force, spare a thought for the NASA communications team. (Image credit: NASA)

For many people, multiple questions are a real challenge. Our brain hears the first question and starts to formulate a response when, all of a sudden, our brain is asked to go in a different direction to respond to the second one.

The first tip, of course, is to listen to all of the questions; let them wash over you. Then, take a moment to breathe and think: which of these questions do I like best? Which is the easier to answer? Which one’s answer will resonate most with my audience?

Choosing one’s words carefully shows respect for the audience who must hear or read them. It tells them that you have thought about what they must understand or learn in order to make decisions or take action.