如果CEO问出你不知道答案的问题，该如何应对？

There are a number of reasons why your CEO would spring a tricky question on you. Maybe they're genuinely curious and assume you have the answer. Maybe they're testing you to see whether you can think on your feet.

被CEO问迷之问题的原因有千千万。有可能只是好奇，觉得你可能知道个中事情；也可能是想测验你是否具备独立思考的能力。

Or, maybe they're evil and will cackle joyously at the sight of you sweating and stammering.

亦或许是你的CEO比较坏，就想满脸朝笑地开心看着你被问得满头大汗支支吾吾。

Regardless of their specific motive, you'll feel better if you're able to stay calm and respond in a way that sounds professional.

不论他们出于什么动机，如果你能沉着应对并尽量用专业的方式回答，情况都是会好很多的。

According to Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette and civility expert and the author of "Don't Burp in the Boardroom," your best bet is to just be honest. Here's an example of what you might say:

作为一名文明礼仪专家以及《别在会议室打嗝儿》一书的作者，Rosalinda Oropeza Randall提出遇到这种情况最好的应对就是真诚作答。大概要这样说：

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. I'm happy to find out — I know who to ask."

“对不起，我想回答您但我真的不了解。不过对于这个问题我也很有兴趣知道答案——我知道我可以问谁。”

"It's a good career move," Randall said. "You acknowledge that you don't know and that you will take action."

“这反映了你有好的职业修养”Randall说道，“因为你了自己的知识缺失并且乐于补救。”

At this point, your CEO will probably say one of two things: "It's okay; never mind," or "Yes, please, find out."

这样的话，你的CEO可能会回复类似这样的话“没事的，别介意。”或者“好啊，去找找答案吧。”之类。

If they ask you to find out, Randall said, do it immediately and follow up with them.

如果回复了后者，Randall建议你最好真的马上去找到答案，并且告知你的CEO。

Stephen Dubner and Stephen Levitt, authors of "Freakonomics," recommend a similar strategy in this situation. As Levitt said in a 2017 podcast episode, feigning knowledge is counterproductive:

《怪物经济学》的作者Stephen Dubner 和Stephen Levitt也提出了类似的应对措施。Levitt在2017年的某期语音节目中说道，给出犹豫不确定的答案其实适得其反：

"It might keep your job for another week or another month, it might make people think you are good, but that's not the point," he said. "Really, the goal is to be good and to improve and to learn and to make things better. And the only way to do that is to start by saying, 'I don't know.'"

“这样回答可能会让你在一周或是一个月内保住工作，可能会让别人觉得你棒棒的，但是这都不重要，”他说，“真的，你要做的其实应该是摆正心态通过学习达到提升，让情况好起来。所以在不确定答案时，你最好说先摆明回答自己不知道。”

Of course, if it was your job to find out the answer to your CEO's question — i.e. if it wasn't a surprise — and you don't have the answer, "you're in big trouble," Randall said.

当然，如果CEO问你的问题是你业务范围内的——如果这不是个令你摸不着头脑的问题——但你不知道答案是什么。“那你可摊上大事儿了，”Randall说.

"Your CEO doesn't have time for excuses," she added. "They want the information. They will remember that you don't have it and move on."

“你的CEO可没时间听你解释”她补充道。“他们想要拿到想要的信息，所以如果你未能提供，那么他们会记住这件事然后继续工作。”

While you might not be able to restore your reputation completely, Randall said, you should definitely speak to your manager after the meeting with your CEO. When you're uNPRepared, it makes your boss look bad, too.

Randall这样建议说，在这种情况下，虽然完全挽回形象不太可能，但是之后去找上司经理谈话可是必须的。如果你对问题无解，那么管你的上司也不好看。

Offer to gather the information this afternoon — but know that at this point, your manager might say, "never mind."

提出自己会马上收集信息给出答案，但是也有可能你的上司会告诉你“没关系，别管这事儿了。”

Another option, assuming your manager thinks it's a good idea, is to email your CEO and copy your manager. Include the information you were supposed to bring and tell your CEO that this won't happen again.

另一种选择是，给CEO发一封邮件并抄送给经理（如果你能确定你的经理可以接受）。附上CEO想要的信息和答案，并且发誓这样的情况永远不会发生第二次了。