Practice: Defend it

Make your case. Hold it.

This is engaging practice. You face a skeptic who needs convincing. The doubt persists until you answer it with something specific, so a vague explanation gets you nowhere.

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You face

A skeptic who needs convincing.

Defending a plan, a proposal, or a recommendation means answering the person in front of you. A strong answer for one skeptic can be no answer for another. You read who is asking, adjust, and keep going.

Sample rep

Your roleYou're a city planner presenting a flood-prevention proposal at a community town hall. Three questioners will challenge you in turn: is the problem real, can the town afford it, and will it work.

Diane

You say this is a crisis. How many households does it touch?

You

About 400 on the east side. The city's own flood survey counted them.

Frank

Checks his watch.Who pays for it, this year and in year ten?

You

A state grant covers the build. The city carries about $30,000 a year after that.

Rita

I've watched projects like this stall after the ribbon cutting. Who is accountable in year two?

You

The public works director reports to council every quarter, and a second contractor is on the bid as a backup.

Type your response…↑

Cognitive audit · Attempt 1

92 / 100

Answering the question asked24 / 25

Using evidence23 / 25

Adjusting to each questioner22 / 25

Holding the position23 / 25

Diane's numbers held up because you named the survey. Frank got both the grant and the yearly cost, and Rita got a role and a reporting schedule. Each answer fit the person asking.

To work on next:

Name the person who is accountable, not only the role.
Say what happens if the grant falls through.

Make your case. Hold it.

Have the hard conversation here first.