1. Tools for Responding to Tough Questions
Jennifer Vieweg, Corporate Affairs Manager
Energy Corporation of America

2. Why Do We Need to Be Prepared?
Doing it wrong…
He was not prepared… he “winged it”
Over confident
Engaged in hypotheticals
He relinquished control to the person asking the questions

3. Your Elevator Speech – Your Story
Define who you are and what you do
Create an attention-getting hook
Explain what is important about the industry
Issue a call to action
Put it all together

4. My Elevator Speech
“I am in corporate affairs for an oil and gas company headquartered here in Charleston. But our industry is not just about energy. Did you know that 96 percent of the things you touch every day include some sort of petroleum-based product? Your phone, your computer, your clothing, your car, your medicines… nearly everything you use has some sort of natural gas product in it. This is critical to our manufacturing industry in the U.S. After all, you can’t make plastic from the sun. Similarly, for the first time in my lifetime, energy independence is within our reach and shale gas development is critical to America’s pursuit of energy security. Within just a few years, North America could be able to support our own energy needs. That gives us a much stronger position on the world stage… we would no longer be at the mercy of countries who do not have our best interests in mind. We could reinvigorate domestic manufacturing and potentially bring a lot of our deployed troops home. Check out energyspeakswv.com if you still have questions.”

5. 4 Key Points to Remember You have the information, so you have control
Anticipate the questions; don’t “wing it”
Never speculate
Plug the Desk & Derrick Club and the industry

6. 60-30-10 Rule 60 percent: body language 30 percent: nonverbal
10 percent: message content

7. Questions? Craft Your Elevator Speech
Define who you are and what you do
Create an attention-getting hook
Explain what is important about the industry
Issue a call to action
Put it all together