Answer a question you cannot fully resolve — Speaking Exercise
Presentations · Advanced · 1–2 minutes speaking
Imagine a listener asks a detailed question during a presentation. Practise answering what you know and being honest about what needs checking.
Your speaking goal
Be clear about uncertainty
Plan your answer
Think in short notes rather than writing every sentence.
- Which part can you answer now?
- What information is missing?
- How would you follow up?
One way to begin
I can explain the current process, but I would need to check the latest figures before giving you a reliable estimate.
Illustrative opening. Use your own experience and words.
Try it out loud
Ask yourself a difficult question. Answer in three parts: known information, uncertainty, and a specific next step. Avoid inventing a number.
Make a first attempt without stopping to fix every sentence. On the second take, change just one thing.
Use the free teleprompter →Listen back and reflect
Was it clear which statements were facts and which were estimates?
If you record yourself, notice one sentence that worked and one place where a pause or simpler explanation would help.