This book is a very informative read for anyone who expects to be in a leadership role at anytime in their life. It is not just for the workplace, or business community. It is a great reference for individuals that may have to lead any kind of team, anyone appointed as a spokesperson for a group, a role as a parent, guardian, or in preparation for interviews. At some point all of us will be thrusted into "the line of fire" and presented with tough questions. This handy guide will be an invaluable part of your professional development library, and essential tool in your leadership tool bag.



In a previous career I was a combat-trained medic and vividly recall one important principle taught in training for our own safety. While assisting battlefield casualties you must always "keep the patient between you and the line of fire," in the hostile fire zone. I believe the same concept applies to the tough questions we might receive in the non-combat environment of life. This book provides readers with great insight on how to keep them protected between the question and the questioner when we open the floor to the "line of fire."



The author relates that people ask challenging questions because they are kicking the tires, and you are the tires. Perhaps they just want to test your mettle. You will learn how to be ready and how to field the intent of questioners. When you have your confidence up, then you be able to "1. Open the floor. 2. Recognize the questioner. 3. Yield the floor. 4. Retake the floor."

This manuscript prepares us to mentally enter the belly of the beast with preparation through Martial Art discipline.



I believe that one of the most important skills in life is communication. In my present occupation it would appear that the leaders of the organization are petrified of conducting town hall meetings with employees. The higher they get, the more they seem as far away as the planet Pluto. Is it the fact that they expect an uncontrollable can of worms? Instead of seeing the importance of this forum, they would rather meet with 10 or less people at a time. At that pace it will take many years to meet with the 1700 employees in the organization. A larger forum provides an opportunity to diffuse many questions at once if the presenter is properly prepared by reading this book. If one person has a question, ten others probably have that same question. Small groups are great for focusing on a particular issue(s). Bosses can run, but they can't hide by using one-way forms of communication. A physician I once worked for used to say, "Never let the sun set on an abscess." It will lead to a systemic infection or worse. Read this book to begin to get a handle on your worst fears of the public forum.