Staying Cool under Fire

People who are good speakers handle prepared presentations well but often dread the Q&A session. When the audience has questions, is it because you didn't deliver your message clearly? Or is it because the audience is unpersuaded?  Either way, responding to difficult questions can be a challenge.

How do you prepare to be cool, confident, and persuasive under fire? Jerry Weissman has an excellent article, "Icing the Hot Seat" on SandHill.com. I highly recommend that you read his tips on dealing with difficult Q&A sessions before your next speech or presentation.