During his recent U.S. Senate confirmation hearing, Dr. Kumar Sinha – nominated to be the next American ambassador to Singapore – appeared out of his depth. What should have been a straightforward session turned into a public lesson in how not to handle high-stakes questioning.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois and a combat veteran with deep regional expertise, pressed Sinha on Singapore’s role in U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. He struggled to respond. Her assessment was blunt:

“You are not currently prepared for this posting, period. And you need to shape up and do some homework.”

Duckworth didn’t stop there. She described Singapore as “one of the most important friends we have in the Indo-Pacific,” and highlighted its strategic relevance in managing tensions with the People’s Republic of China.

Clips of the exchange have since gone viral – mostly because of how unprepared Sinha seemed for questions that should have been anticipated.

That’s what makes this episode remarkable. Confirmation hearings are usually well-scripted. Candidates rehearse. Briefings are detailed. Most glide through without incident. It’s clear Dr. Sinha should have done the same. He misjudged the room – and the role.

This is exactly why preparation matters. We see the same dynamic in our work with spokespeople and executives. Whether you’re briefing investors, speaking to media, or sitting across from policymakers, clarity and readiness are non-negotiable.

Sure, the average media interview has a smaller audience than a high-stakes hearing, but there’s the real possibility of sending the incorrect message. When things go wrong, they can go very, very wrong quite easily.

When we coach clients, we focus on a few core habits:

• Say something worth hearing
• Know your message well enough to adapt it
• Prepare for questions that may be uncomfortable
• Stay calm under pressure

Learning these makes the preparation much easier. There’s no guess work about how to prepare, which frequently means that we find clients can spend less time to get a better result. Habits make the difference between a strong appearance and a forgettable – or damaging – one.

If you’re preparing for a high-visibility interview, board presentation or media appearance, we can help. You can go from neophyte to expert in just an afternoon. Get in touch.

Sarah Anderson is a director in Singapore