Ever felt like your brain freezes when you’re under stress? It’s a common reaction, whether you’re answering tough questions during a presentation or haggling over a car price. Your stress levels rise, your fight-or-flight response kicks in, and your mind goes blank. But don’t worry, learning to think on your feet and perform under pressure is a skill that anyone can learn. It’s a skill that can help you excel at work, become a better public speaker, improve your negotiation skills, boost your sales, and handle tough job interview questions with grace. In short, being able to think clearly under pressure can help you advance your career and earn more money.
Imagine this: You’re walking into work and suddenly your boss and their boss approach you. They want to hear your ideas about expanding one of your company’s key territories, but they have some concerns about your strategy. Suddenly, you find yourself in an impromptu job interview about the expansion. You’ve done your research, but you weren’t expecting to defend your ideas today. However, you know that if you can make a compelling case and answer their questions well, you’ll be first in line to lead the new territory. This could be a game-changer for your career and earning potential.
If this scenario makes you nervous, you’re not alone. Many of us feel uncomfortable when we’re put on the spot or forced to answer questions we haven’t prepared for. Extroverts tend to start talking immediately and ramble on, organizing their thoughts as they go, while introverts often freeze up and then stammer out an answer. Neither of these responses will do much for your reputation.
But there are many benefits to learning how to think clearly under pressure.
Firstly, you’ll feel less stressed when you know how to think on your feet. When your boss corners you and demands to know why your numbers are so low, you’ll be able to formulate a clear, concise response without having a panic attack. You’ll look more professional and in control of the situation, which will impress your boss.
Secondly, thinking on your feet will strengthen your reputation and build credibility. You’ll appear more confident, informed, and self-assured, which can help you climb the corporate ladder, negotiate a better salary, impress your clients, strengthen your public speaking, negotiate effectively, and much more. Staying cool under pressure can also help you build trust with your team. When they see that you’re calm in tense situations, you’ll earn their respect.
Thirdly, you’ll make better decisions. When you have to make a decision, you rely on the part of your brain called the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for problem-solving and logical thinking. In ordinary circumstances, your cerebral cortex kicks in every time you have to make a decision, allowing you to weigh all relevant factors and come to a sound conclusion. However, when you’re put on the spot, you often feel threatened, and the stress and fear cause your limbic system to kick in. Your limbic system is an ancient part of your brain that regulates emotion and is responsible for assessing danger; it’s where your fight-or-flight response originates. When you feel threatened, your limbic system can hijack the rest of your brain, making it difficult – if not impossible – to make a good decision. Fortunately, you can learn to override this automatic response and make sound decisions in tough situations.
So, how do you think on your feet when all eyes are on you, your palms are sweating, your breath is shallow, and you have no idea what to say?
First, pause. When we’re put on the spot, we often start talking immediately, without any idea of what we want or need to say. This can cause you to say something you didn’t intend or give a response that’s unclear or doesn’t fully answer the question. When you’ve been asked an unexpected question, don’t jump in and start talking just because you’re nervous. Take a deep breath and give yourself a second or two to process the question. You can also say something like, “Wow, that’s a great question. Let me think a minute.” Don’t shy away from a pause; it will make you appear more thoughtful.
Second, respond in outline form. When you’re faced with a question that requires a broad answer, it’s tempting just to start talking and let your answer take shape as the words leave your mouth. Again, pausing here is crucial to getting yourself organized. But you also need to focus your response so you don’t ramble on endlessly. During your pause, figure out what your main points need to be; there should be no more than three. Also, come up with supporting evidence for each point. When you start to answer, outline what you’re about to say.
Third, reframe what’s happening. It feels very uncomfortable to be put on the spot. When it happens, you might have thoughts like, “Ugh, I hate this. I feel afraid. I want out of this situation right now.” These negative thoughts reinforce what your limbic system is trying to tell you: that feeling this pressure isn’t good and you need to get out immediately. When our cavemen ancestors were being chased by bears, this was a useful response. However, when we’re in a meeting and our reputation depends on our performance, it’s not very helpful. Reframing how you feel about this pressure and tension puts your limbic system in the backseat so you can think clearly.
Fourth, adjust your body language. You’re giving a presentation to your team and some higher-ups at work when, suddenly, one of your colleagues asks a tough question. You unconsciously take a step back, cross your arms, and look down at the floor, trying desperately to organize your thoughts. It’s a tough situation, and your body language is screaming that you’re nervous and on the defense.
Fifth, avoid “What Ifs”. You’re sitting down for an important job interview. A lot is on the line; not only is this the job of your dreams, but you just bought a new home and really need a bigger salary. As you’re waiting for the recruiter to come in, the “what if” thoughts start up: What if I bomb this interview? What if I get asked a question that I don’t know the answer to? What if my boss doesn’t give me a good recommendation? What if, what if, what if …
Lastly, if you don’t know something, admit it. If you truly don’t know the answer to a question, don’t waffle or beat around the bush; admit that you don’t know.
In conclusion, knowing how to perform under pressure is a skill that anyone can learn and everyone can benefit from. It can help advance your career and lead to key leadership roles. It can help you earn more money, negotiate effectively, strengthen your reputation, and experience less stress in pressure situations. However, these techniques take some practice. Choose one or two and start using them whenever you’re put on the spot. Once those become automatic behaviors, choose another technique to work on. Over time, you’ll build an arsenal of thinking and behavior strategies that will help you stay calm in tense situations.
So, what tips do you have to keep cool and think on your feet?
