Handling the Push-Back

Skilled questioners will notice a bridge and push back: "That's interesting, but my question was about the timeline." When this happens you have two choices. If you can answer directly, answer directly — repeated bridging on the same question destroys credibility in seconds.

If you genuinely cannot answer, be transparent: "I understand you need that specific answer, and I don't have it yet. I'll follow up by Friday." Practice bridges until the redirect sounds honest rather than evasive.