When giving your Q&A (Question and Answer session) be very aware of how your answers can appear to your audience. In the video below, the CEO of Microsoft makes the mistake of getting too comfortable with his Q&A and saying something at a Women's Technology conference that he REALLY regretted. See at 1:33:54
http://new.livestream.com/anitaborginstitute/events/3447060/videos/64403737
Notice that this is a LONG question that is very SPECIFIC ("For women who aren't comfortable in asking for a raise...what's your advice for them?") and his answer is targeted to this specific question (i.e., it ONLY applies for women who do not ask for a raise) and attempts to be encouraging to women who might be left out of the opportunities around them.
However, the answer by itself completely undoes his point. If you listen to the rest of his comments in this long interview, he is careful to emphasize all the ways Microsoft is helping women develop and grow in their workforce. But the only thing that lives on after this women's conference is the CEO's comment, "...it's not really about asking for the raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along." This suggests that women should not speak up for what they want, which is not the point he wanted to make and certainly not the last thing he wanted the female conference attendees to hear.
The news media had a "field day" with this comment...and played the comment so it sounded like the CEO was saying that NO women should EVER ask for a raise.
The lesson? Be VERY aware of the wording to your answers to audience questions and turn ALL answers back to the points you are making in your speech.
About hell,
Tim Wilson
Professional Speech Coach
Free speaking tips at: http://speakingquicktips.blogspot.com
Twitter: @PblcSpkngLibr
