Many of my executive coaching clients have been put in pressure situations where they have been asked to “think on their feet”. These situations can be anything from defending a course of action, influencing buy-in from a senior leader, a request for ideas on a new project, or a charged question and answer session. The following tips will help you get through impromptu situations with professionalism and poise.
1. Breathe – breathing will relax you and shifts the “fight or flight” so you remain calm and attentive.
2. Maintain professionalism – keep your composure with a confident posture and non verbal gestures. Avoid appearing defensive.
3. Focus – listen to what is being asked of you. Sometimes we get “mentally flooded” due to the pressure. If this is the case, be sure to look directly at the questioner and ask for clarity. You want to be sure you are understanding and answering the right question.
4. Pause – take a moment to collect your thoughts before responding. Ask yourself: what is my opinion? Why do I think that? What evidence do I have to support my point of view?
5. Repeat the question – this will give you a more time to think of your response. You can also paraphrase it to turn a negative question into a positive one.
6. Be concise and succinct with your response – too many words can confuse others – avoid rambling. To help assure credibility, utilize facts, data, and personal experience in your response.
7. Solid conclusion – be clear when you are finished by saying “in conclusion” or “in summary” giving a very slight recap of your answer.
What do you to respond professionally in pressure situations?