In the coming days when watching interviews with politicians and journalists on television, count the number of times the person who is interviewed answer a question from the host starting with "Listen" or "So listen..."
With regards to this automatic response, we should ask ourselves two questions:
- 1. Does this strategy give you a strategic advantage when answering a trick question?
- 2. Does this strategy make it easier for your listeners to listen and understand?
- Est-ce une marotte utilisée dans d’autres langues?
I propose the following possible answers:
- 1. No. Some listeners will not pay any attention to it. Others will find these words unnecessarily authoritarian, and it is difficult to predict their reaction.
- 2. No. In general, the person who asked you the question will listen to your answer and there is no need to insist.
- Rarement. En anglais parfois. Il semble, cependant, qu’elle soit assez répandue en français au Québec!
An annoying tic for your listeners:
We have too often heard this way answering a question from the audience, so often in fact that this strategy is no longer remarkable. What you are doing is merely adding word crutches or fillers in the same way some of us show a nervous tic such as scratching one's head or replacing this rebellious strand of hair when speaking in public.
There are better ways to reframe a question and "buy" yourself a few seconds to breathe and think about your answer.
Here are a few better ways to start your response:
- Thank you for that question...
- I understand your interest, your concern...
- This is a question I am often asked...
- Your question highlights...
- This question has been raised frequently by...
Change it up
Challenge yourself to answer questions differently to mobilize the attention of your listeners and show your mastery of the subject!