Many people are terrified about handling a public question-and-answer session because they're worried they'll be asked a question that they can't answer. This is an understandable fear!

Here's the best advice I was ever given about how to answer an "impossible" question: it's perfectly OK to let your audience know that you don't know the answer to every question. No one knows the answer to every question!

If you've prepared for your presentation and are generally knowledgeable about the topic, your audience will forgive you if you don't know the answer to a particular question. In fact, your candor can boost your credibility.

Being asked a question you can't answer is an opportunity to create more conversation! You can poll the audience for their answers, or you can make a connection with the person asking the question and provide them with the answer via email after the presentation is concluded.