Listen, answer, support, stop
Repeat or paraphrase the question so everyone heard it. Answer in one or two sentences. Give the evidence. Stop.
If you don't know, say so and say how you'll find out. Never guess a number. A confident wrong answer does more damage than an honest “I'll check the flight log and email you by Friday.”
Defend decisions with reasons tied to the client's need, not with “that's what we always do.”
branch
The skeptical client
Choose the best response each round.
Round 1 · Owner's representative
“How do you know the building is really 40% complete?”
Round 2 · Site superintendent
“What was your flight altitude, and why?”
Round 3 · Project manager
“Could your maps be wrong?”