Each one is an opportunity to show your credibility and build trust.
🚫 If you answer poorly?
They start doubting your competence.
✅ If you answer well?
They trust you and are grateful you’re on the team.
Most people suck at answering questions.
They fail to think about the question behind the question.
Here’s a framework for impactful responses:
Each one is an opportunity to show your credibility and build trust.
🚫 If you answer poorly?
They start doubting your competence.
✅ If you answer well?
They trust you and are grateful you’re on the team.
Doing it well is a competitive advantage.
The secret to increasing your effectiveness?
Always consider the "question behind the question” (QBQ).
When a person asks you something, there's the surface question—but there's often a deeper layer.
A few signs you should address the QBQ:
• You have to repeat yourself
• Lots of follow-ups
• They’re still skeptical
• They ask oddly specific questions
Folks don’t necessarily have ulterior motives--they're just looking for more depth.
There could be a deeper worry, concern, or simply curiosity.
And it’s usually subconscious.
✔️ you’ll give a better answer
✔️ you’ll be more confident in it
✔️ your audience will feel more satisfied with your response
Your colleague asks, “How is the project going? Is everything under control? Anything I should be aware of?"
Most people would simply answer the question at face value.
But that's a miss.
This is too generic. It lacks context they want to see.
Your coworker might not believe you. They will keep asking until they can.
This is tailored to your colleague’s concerns.
It answers the QBQ.
• What does my colleague focus on?
• What part do they care about most?
• What would make them feel reassured and safe?
Address these in your response.
They're analytical. They want to see the data--numbers, percentages, logic.
Your answers should include these details.
And you can save your breath on storytelling or other aspects they don’t care as much about.
You won’t always have the chance to ask for clarity.
Try to take your best guess as to what this person values.
They just have a vague feeling.
You’ll need to probe to find their underlying question.
You might have to explain in different ways until you see their eyes light up.
https://t.co/NqbFFwmcdQ
Here\u2019s a simple trick:
— Wes Kao \U0001f3db (@wes_kao) February 19, 2022
Aim to make your audience\u2019s *eyes light up*.
I call it ELU for short.
The ELU moment happens when your audience is viscerally excited about your story. pic.twitter.com/7XFg9JagZt
Don’t blindly engage in a never-ending back-and-forth.
That’s a huge drain of time and emotional labor.
Step back and think about what their true concern is.
Then focus on answering the QBQ.
The person asking the question will feel seen and heard.
That's ultimately what we want when we engage with anyone.
If you found this thread valuable:
1. Follow me for more threads on leadership, education, and marketing →
@wes_kao
2. I’ll write a deep dive about this in my newsletter. Subscribe to get it in your inbox.
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Fake chats claiming to be from the Irish African community are being disseminated by the far right in order to suggest that violence is imminent from #BLM supporters. This is straight out of the QAnon and Proud Boys playbook. Spread the word. Protest safely. #georgenkencho
There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.
Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.
Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.
The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.
There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.
Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.
Be aware, the images the #farright are sharing in the hopes of starting a race war, are not of the SPAR employee that was punched. They\u2019re older photos of a Everton fan. Be aware of the information you\u2019re sharing and that it may be false. Always #factcheck #GeorgeNkencho pic.twitter.com/4c9w4CMk5h
— antifa.drone (@antifa_drone) December 31, 2020
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— Mark Malone (@soundmigration) January 1, 2021
This follows on and is part of a misinformation campaign to polarise communities at this time.
The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.
"I really want to break into Product Management"
make products.
"If only someone would tell me how I can get a startup to notice me."
Make Products.
"I guess it's impossible and I'll never break into the industry."
MAKE PRODUCTS.
Courtesy of @edbrisson's wonderful thread on breaking into comics – https://t.co/TgNblNSCBj – here is why the same applies to Product Management, too.
There is no better way of learning the craft of product, or proving your potential to employers, than just doing it.
You do not need anybody's permission. We don't have diplomas, nor doctorates. We can barely agree on a single standard of what a Product Manager is supposed to do.
But – there is at least one blindingly obvious industry consensus – a Product Manager makes Products.
And they don't need to be kept at the exact right temperature, given endless resource, or carefully protected in order to do this.
They find their own way.
make products.
"If only someone would tell me how I can get a startup to notice me."
Make Products.
"I guess it's impossible and I'll never break into the industry."
MAKE PRODUCTS.
Courtesy of @edbrisson's wonderful thread on breaking into comics – https://t.co/TgNblNSCBj – here is why the same applies to Product Management, too.
"I really want to break into comics"
— Ed Brisson (@edbrisson) December 4, 2018
make comics.
"If only someone would tell me how I can get an editor to notice me."
Make Comics.
"I guess it's impossible and I'll never break into the industry."
MAKE COMICS.
There is no better way of learning the craft of product, or proving your potential to employers, than just doing it.
You do not need anybody's permission. We don't have diplomas, nor doctorates. We can barely agree on a single standard of what a Product Manager is supposed to do.
But – there is at least one blindingly obvious industry consensus – a Product Manager makes Products.
And they don't need to be kept at the exact right temperature, given endless resource, or carefully protected in order to do this.
They find their own way.
