How do I get better at thinking on my feet?
April 1, 2011 4:04 PM   Subscribe

How do I learn to think and react more quickly, especially in surprise situations or high excitement and/or stress situations.

I'm a thinker. I like to carefully plan and think out my next move, and research everything. Unfortunately, that style of thinking seems to mean I can't answer very quickly when I'm approached with a subject I'm not expecting. Say, for example, I'm in a meeting and someone asks me about an entirely different subject or project, I won't have an answer. But give me 5 minutes away from the situation, and I have a well formed answer in my head because I already knew it. Or I'm in an exciting conversation with a friend or acquaintance - and I know I've dealt with what we're discussing but I can't recall anything specific. If we move to a different topic, or go our separate ways, then I remember.

I've even had it where it will be something I've written in depth about, and someone asks me the same exact thing I've written about, and I don't remember that I have researched and articulated thoughts on it until I'm away from the situation.

I'm certain this is some form of stairway wit because I've got that too. It's like the part of my brain that engages in talking isn't the part that engages in the same areas of complex thinking.

So the question is, how do I change that? I'm certain it can be done at least to an extent, but I don't know how to approach the problem. I am looking for any advice, be it books, specific techniques, classes, etc . . .
posted by [insert clever name here] to Human Relations (15 answers total) 54 users marked this as a favorite
 
play sports (like basketball) or video games? trivia games? taboo?
posted by maulik at 4:20 PM on April 1, 2011


Best answer: Practice may help. There is a part of every Toastmasters meeting called "Table Topics" where members are called upon randomly to stand and give a 1 minute response to a question. The question may or may not relate to an overall theme for the meeting (sports, movies, your favorite memory, your biggest accomplishment, etc.).

I have similar experiences to those you are describing. Table Topics always made me incredibly nervous, but fighting through that fear (and realizing that you can do it), did help me.
posted by srk at 4:30 PM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm very much like that. One thing that I think is a factor is nervousness/confidence (flip sides of the same coin). That doesn't apply in all situations, but it does apply in some -- and that's a broader, more recognizable topic about which there's probably more relevant literature.
posted by J. Wilson at 4:37 PM on April 1, 2011


Sorry, I should elaborate - I have this problem, too. I used to be an EMT, and pausing to think at the cite of an auto accident isn't really an option. Now I work in advertising, where the consequences are much less grave, but the expectation of a quick and effective answer is sometimes just as urgent. Practice is definitely a key to getting quicker on your feet, but so is relaxation. When presented with a suddenly stressful situation, it's easy to freeze up a little while your mind attempts to comprehend everything as fast as it can. Taking a tiny mental space to remind yourself to relax so that you can actually think more effectively is crucial to me in these situations. Meditation makes this easier to do, as is having what I like to think of as a 'game face' - that mental state of readiness that you'd put on just before a fight or competition of some sort. Knowing what one feels like is the first step to being able to wield it at your leisure (that probably sounds pretty lame, but it generally helps me out quite a bit).

Also, I think that most people are aware that time to think equals better solutions (ergo, you're not the only one who would like more time to organize their thoughts). Knowing that helps me a lot, too.
posted by Pecinpah at 4:45 PM on April 1, 2011


I don't have an answer for you, because I have long lamented my tendency to freeze and go all deer-in-the-headlights in the same way. However, I've found that for me, this tendency is hugely situational. I have no trouble articulating myself when responding to people who are familiar and "safe" to me. I can jump right in without missing a beat, even if the conversation is heated or contentious. I don't need to pause and mull it over, the words just flow from me. I simply know what I know, believe what I believe, and say what I mean.

It's a whole different story when I feel the least bit insecure. If I feel judged or intimidated by the person I'm speaking to (even if it's all just in my head), I have a total brain meltdown and can't string together two coherent thoughts to save my life. It's likely that whatever I manage to say will be stilted, awkward, and sound really, really dumb. Then I'll hear myself sounding like a complete moron, feel even more insecure and judged, and voila, vicious cycle of brain implosion. I know exactly what you mean when you say, "It's like the part of my brain that engages in talking isn't the part that engages in the same areas of complex thinking." Then just like you describe, as soon as I'm out from under the microscope, I feel like myself again and then, duh, of course... that's what I should have said, I knew that.

If this is also the case for you, then perhaps it's an issue of self confidence and the brain farts are symptomatic of that. I wish I could tell you how to solve that problem, but obviously I'm clueless. Also, I may be way off the mark here, so my apologies if I've got it all wrong.
posted by keep it under cover at 5:27 PM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]


Similar to what Pecinpah and srk say: find some sort of way to practice. As a healthcare worker we have mock codes a lot and algorithms for emergent events. And the times that I've been in codes often that step by step practice really helps. I like reviewing the algorithms when I'm about to deal with an issue where that event has the potential to go bad.

Also staying calm is the most important part of it. Seconds seem like forever, but maintaining a calm environment and allowing yourself and others to think clearly always seem to lead to the best run or most successful codes/emergent events.

As for speaking situations, I try to apply a similar calculated response. If I blurt out the first thing I'm thinking it seems to come out that way. But if I stay calm, consider what I want to say and then say it - even though it feels like I'm taking forever - then I say better clearer things.

And as an observer of other speakers, the ones who seem to consider what they say often have the greater resonance than the ones talking the most. Something to consider. Good luck.

tldr: figure out repeated steps and follow that algorithm while staying calm.
posted by dog food sugar at 5:30 PM on April 1, 2011


Best answer: Take an improv class?
posted by ManInSuit at 9:42 PM on April 1, 2011


The key to being a quick thinker is preparation, training and practice. Have a plan. Know what you will do in a best case scenario and a worst case one.

I often do public q and a's on subjects I know and sometimes am not as familiar with as I would like. I have learned that being a quick thinker is not learning how to bullshit. It is learning how to say, "I don't know" or "Interesting question, let me look into that and get back to you" or "My gut impression is xyz, but I would like time to consider all the points of view before I commit to an answer." In the long run, credibility is more important than just having a quick answer.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 5:36 AM on April 2, 2011 [3 favorites]


Best answer: I'm the same way. When I was new in my current job, I was frequently the deer in the headlights when asked a question. I decided to look at speaking on the spot as another domain of knowledge and skill separate from writing and thinking. I compared it to learning a new language. The only way to learn it is to do it and to accept sucking at it at first, but to keep practicing and going by the approach that saying something is better than saying nothing sometimes. One foundational skill that I used is the basic beginning, middle, and end arc that you learn in school for writing paragraphs and essays at work, but not in casual conversation.

It might have something to do with having introverted tendencies. A common factoid is that in introverts, the connection from the thinking part of the brain to the verbalizing part of the brain is longer in introverts, which I feel aptly describes the process I experience.

I still struggle, but overtime have definitely improved.
posted by waterandrock at 7:22 AM on April 2, 2011 [4 favorites]


Seconding taking an improv class. There are some that are more geared towards business situations than strictly performance. For me, it helped me make connections in conversations and see how they actually work, so I could anticipate what might be asked, and react if something unexpected happened. This article talks about non-performance applications of improv.
posted by katybird at 9:42 AM on April 2, 2011 [1 favorite]


I agree, practice is essential!

One place I developed these kinds of skills was working in a public-facing position at a science museum. You've got to think fast when you're explaining that one of the adorable South American monkeys who live in the museum died recently and an adorable 4-year-old asks you, "Is she with Jesus now?" (My answer, which I stand by: "Um, I don't know!") Or when a preteen asks, "Wait... how does the baby get in?" I'm also really good at dealing with lost children.

Obviously that exact opportunity doesn't exist everywhere or for everyone, but try to find a way to incorporate situations that force you to think fast into your life - improv and Toastmasters sound like great choices.

And, if it's possible to do this in a low-stakes way, try just going into situations without doing your usual preparation. Pick a meeting and don't let yourself prepare for it at all. A lot of people (especially shy or socially anxious people, though I don't know if that's you) have a tendency to over-prepare for things. That preparation/rehearsal can be a subtle avoidance technique that insulates you from the discomfort of having to think fast. If you can break yourself of the habit of over-preparing, it could help. I totally get that that's an incredibly hard thing to do, though! Maybe there's a way to break that down into smaller tasks... start by doing reading up on something but leaving your notes back in your office?
posted by mskyle at 7:09 PM on April 2, 2011


Paradoxically, I find that trying to slow down helps. Taking a moment to think -- and realizing that it's okay to do so -- can help get rid of that "crap, I need to say something RIGHT NOW OMGWTFBBQ" brain freeze.
posted by J. Wilson at 8:15 PM on April 2, 2011


Response by poster: Thanks everyone, there are some really good thoughts here. There are a bunch of toastmasters chapters around me, I'm going to check them out. I have only done public speaking once outside of school, and while nervous as hell, I really loved it.

There also appears to be an improv class at Comedy Sportz, where Dan Harmon, Community creator started his career, so I think I'm going to take a class there.

"A common factoid is that in introverts, the connection from the thinking part of the brain to the verbalizing part of the brain is longer in introverts, which I feel aptly describes the process I experience." Waterandrock, that's exactly how I feel. Even if I'm in a situation where I'm describing something I'm 100% comfortable, the more technical it is, the worse my ability to verbalize becomes. Its like the connections between the two areas are weak. I get around this by showing with minimal explanation.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 3:47 PM on April 3, 2011 [1 favorite]


Have you ever read Edward De Bono's books on lateral thinking, it might help. It's amazing how your imagination can be shackled by the conditioning that's all around us.
posted by conrad101 at 9:16 AM on April 4, 2011 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Stall. (I could probably give this a cleverer name, but it is what it is.)

If a person asks about topic B when your brain was on topic A, ask them a question in return to clarify what information they want, and use the pause to mentally riffle through and line up points of reply and also hone in on what response they need/want. Crack a small joke. Whatever makes you feel re-centered.

Person: "I know we were talking about squid, but what can you tell me about the mating habits of prairie dogs?"
You (stalling): "White tailed or black tailed prairie dogs, or prairie dogs in general? Are you planning a business venture, or is this more of a breed-plague-and-take-over-the-world plot?"

Then while they're trying to answer your nonsense, switch your brain gears over to prairie dogs.
posted by griselda at 2:01 PM on April 4, 2011 [3 favorites]


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