#25 Mastering Unscripted Answers: The Two-Point and Principle Plus Story Tactics

Winning Edge

• Answering unscripted questions is like using a microwave: you have to respond spontaneously in seconds
• To make a spontaneous answer great, use structure and time constraints
• Two tactics for concise and effective unscripted answers:
  • 2-Point Tactic
    • Listen closely to the question and pause to gather thoughts
    • Say, "That's a good question. It comes down to two things."
    • State your first point, then introduce the second point
    • Practice using a 60-second countdown timer
  • Principle Plus Story Tactic
    • State how you'll make decisions based on the question
    • Give a one to two-sentence answer about your guiding principle
    • Tell a story from your past that reinforces the principle
    • Practice using a 90-second countdown timer
• Use ChatGPT to generate practice questions and have someone read them to you
• With practice, you'll feel more comfortable creating spontaneous answers in 60 to 90 seconds

Check out the accompanying one-page PDF for more details.

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