How to Answer Tough Questions

Ray Carnes
Management Matters
Published in
5 min readMay 16, 2023

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I have all the right answers… if you only ask the right questions?

I’ve been in countless meetings where I asked a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ question? And I’m always surprised (and disappointed) that most presenters can’t help themselves. Perhaps they want to show how smart they are… and begin to elaborate the full background… and five or so minutes later… if you are lucky… they may finish their response with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

As a leader, I already trust that you know the details. That’s why I hired you. Now, your job in this meeting is to just answer the question. Say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and then ask if I’d like any additional background. Otherwise, let’s move on and get back to work.

Now, it isn’t always that easy. Over the years, I’ve been asked a wide range of questions. In this article, I’ve compiled some helpful tips that have worked for me in a variety of situations.

How to Answer Tough Questions, ©James R Carnes, 2023

1. Simple Q&A Model

Answering questions is a valuable communication skill, and like many other skills, it starts with context and listening. Here’s a brief outline of the Q&A mental model and a definition its essential elements.

  • The Questioner — Who is asking? Why do they want to know? What is their context?
  • The Question — Listen carefully to the question. What type of…

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Ray Carnes
Management Matters

Transformational Leader, Large-scale Systems Architect and Software Developer, Executive Coach, Author, Musician, and aspiring triathlete.