Answering Loaded Questions

Do you cringe when someone asks:

So…”What’s your story?”

Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  It’s a loaded question.  Where do you begin?  What do you say?  How can you possibly answer something like this, let alone without boring someone to death with a long-winded account of your life story.

With daunting questions like this, here are a few solid responses:

–    “You first.  Tell me about you.”

–    “Personal? Professional?”

–    “What do you want to know?”

–      Fill in the blanks with a few bullets as a response:  I live here, do this, come from wherever, am passionate about x, and am looking to….

The other thing that will make a potentially awkward situation easier is a little context.  Think about where you are, the circumstances you’re in when this question comes to you.  Who is the person asking?  What kind of information do they want or need to hear to make this encounter successful or meaningful.  Be honest, just strategic and you’ll handle situations like a smooth operator!

Navigating tricky situations like this while networking or socializing can be tricky. Don’t leave the right people with the wrong impression.  Fast Track to Success can make a huge difference in how well you handle and present yourself.