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"Katherine, take a go at it?"

I love this scene from the 2017 movie, Subconscious Figures. Katherine, played past Taraji P. Henson, is put on the spot by her dominate, played by Kevin Costner, in a room filled with acme brass NASA officials — all male. She is asked to go to the chalkboard and lay out the math to bring John Glenn's space capsule out of orbit and back to Earth.

This moment has all the elements of archetype storytelling — something unexpected happens, something disruptive and uncomfortable — and and then a memorable moment becomes a life lesson for everyone who is paying attention.

Katherine steps up and displays non only her math luminescence, but besides her presence — both of which would not have been revealed to the residuum of the group unless she was put on the spot.

In nearly organizations, being chosen out during a coming together is not the norm. It'due south viewed equally potentially embarrassing and, at a minimum, uncomfortable. Just if it happens to you lot — it doesn't have to be either. In fact, being called on tin can be an opportunity to make a positive impression.

Google's enquiry on loftier-performing teams revealed that two things were consistently nowadays in their meetings: broad participation and psychological rubber. Calling on people — even if it feels like putting them on the spot — is disquisitional for gaining broad participation. And every bit long equally the group is engaged in a topic that matters and people are attentive when someone speaks, the safe will be in that location.

You and Your Team Series

Meetings

  • How to Answer When You're Put on the Spot in a Meeting

Instead of hoping your boss or the person leading the meeting won't put you on the spot, prepare yourself for the unexpected opportunity to shine. Hither'due south how.

  • Carefully prepare for every meeting. If the coming together organizer has sent out an calendar ahead of time, look through information technology beforehand and for each topic, list whatsoever questions you accept and any points you might brand. It'due south amend to do this before the meeting starts simply you lot tin can also jot downwards notes every bit the meeting's occurring, equally long equally you're listening also. Being attentive will clarify your thinking.
  • Trust yourself. Don't dismiss your ideas every bit irrelevant or ordinary. Your ideas, questions, and views are often more than unique than y'all think. You are the only person in this meeting with your specific combination of background, experience, commitments, and concerns. Making an impact is about sincerity, not necessarily smooth; if you value your own thinking, others will respect it every bit well.
  • Decline if y'all take nothing to add of value. If you're called on and yous truly experience you don't have something helpful to contribute, it's ok to laissez passer, as long as you say it meaningfully. Skip the simple "I'm fine," which can easily exist misinterpreted every bit lack of interest or preparation. Instead give some context and say something like "Thank you for asking. My thinking has already been expressed past others." or "Thank you for checking in with me. My grouping tin can live with what we've agreed upon."
  • Start slowly. If you do decide to reply the request to contribute, take a quick break, and and then brainstorm by speaking slowly and conspicuously. Oft when we get defenseless off guard, we speak likewise fast and get flustered. It'southward OK to take a deep breath before yous brainstorm.
  • Ready your comments. Allow the group know what is coming. You might say, "I have one comment and one question" or "I have iii points to make that are important to my group." This setup volition too help organize your thoughts and then you are less probable to ramble.
  • When advisable, requite yourself permission to retrieve out loud. Since you are being put on the spot, it'southward understandable that you won't accept a polished response. Besides, thinking out loud is a creative act that isn't precise. Permit the grouping know y'all are going to ramble. Yous might say, "There's something I demand to limited and I don't take absolutely clarity on information technology withal, but if the grouping volition bear with me, I'll get there."
  • Practise set responses. Information technology's helpful to accept certain types of responses prepared. The post-obit phrases and questions can assist y'all when you lot're put on the spot:
    • Please say a flake more than about what you're asking. If yous're not certain what you've been asked to comment on, ask for clarity. With more context, you're probable to come up upwards with an reply that'southward more direct and relevant. Don't utilise this every bit a delay tactic, however. Utilise this phrase when y'all'd genuinely like more background earlier you answer.
    • I exercise non have that information. I will go information technology to you by i:00 PM. When you don't know something, don't make excuses. Be honest just provide a fourth dimension by when you will have the answer to indicate a sense of urgency on your part.
    • Here is what I'm taking away from this conversation. Sometimes you'll be asked where yous stand on an issue or conclusion. Rather than simply agreeing, summarize what you lot're gaining from the discussion. Letting others know the value you received from a give-and-take validates the conversation and the contributions of others. It's likewise rare, so people capeesh information technology.
    • I remember I'thousand clear about your idea, and I meet it differently. May I tell you? When you disagree, you lot should say and so, just it'due south helpful to introduce your comments in a mode that helps the other person hear your view. This fix-up phrase indicates your support, takes the notion of "right and incorrect" out of conversation, and reduces defensiveness.
    • While I would take preferred a dissimilar arroyo, I'll fully support this. Sometimes you're asked whether you back up a decision that's being discussed. Information technology's easy to say aye if it's a direction that you agree with, but you occasionally need to get behind a decision that wasn't your preference.
    • Did I answer your question? After you've responded, information technology'southward smart to check that you met the asker'southward expectations with this is a simple, courteous question. After all, it's easy to misinterpret someone'southward request, ramble if y'all're thinking out loud, or not provide a full answer in an effort to be cursory.

Some of life'southward all-time moments occur when someone puts their trust in you and you lot rise to the challenge. Being called on in a coming together may not exist a life-changing moment, but when others ask for your views, ideas, and questions, it is ever an opportunity — not only to add value, only to give people a glimpse of your brilliance.