How to respond confidently when put in the spot

“To communicate with composure and clarity, you need to know your content. Being articulate is the connection between the mind and mouth. If you’re filling your brain with great content and you know your zone of genius well, you’ll naturally be more confident and clear. For composure in the performance/ execution of your message, this comes down to how you can fight the nerves that can sabotage us.” – Simone Heng, global keynote speaker and author

“Take a moment to gather your thoughts before responding. Use assertive body language and non-verbal cues – maintain posture, make eye contact, and use gestures. Most importantly, own your expertise. Confidence radiates when you believe in yourself and your abilities. Lastly, acknowledge your limitations gracefully: If you’re unsure or don’t have an answer, it’s okay to say, ‘That’s a great question. I don’t have the specifics right now, but happy to circle back.’” – Deepshikha Kumar, founder of Speakin and author of 101 Lessons to be a Damn Good Speaker

“Speak up fast and early. The longer you sit and think about what to say and how to say it, the less confident you will feel. When you enter a new group, go around the room greeting and introducing yourself to everyone. This helps you to feel much more confident when someone suddenly asks for your opinion or puts you on the spot.” – Heather Hansen, director of Global Speech Academy and author of Unmuted

“When presenting, always keep your key message at the front of your mind. Keep the focus on what you want to communicate. My formula is to start by mirroring the words used, and then using a bridge like ‘however’ or ‘although’ to pivot back to my message. If the question is particularly jarring for you, always take a deep breath and keep your facial expression relaxed before answering. Ask a follow-up question to buy yourself time to compose yourself.” – Lavinia Thanapathy, professional speaker and trainer, and co-author of Unleash Your Voice: Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman