We’ve all been there.

You’re in a meeting, workshop, or presentation. Someone asks a question. And for a split second… your mind goes completely blank.

You know you’re capable. You’ve done the work. You understand the topic. But the way the question is asked throws you off, and suddenly you’re scrambling for words.

The good news? Thinking quickly under pressure is not a personality trait. It’s a skill you can learn.

Over years of consulting, running workshops, and facilitating discussions, I’ve been asked a lot of questions. Some I knew the answer to immediately. Many others caught me off guard. I’ve also taken improv and communication classes where one of my favourite exercise requires you to speak for one to two minutes on a completely random prompt, on the spot.

What I learned from both environments is this:

Most “difficult” questions aren’t unanswerable. They’re just being asked in an unfamiliar or awkward way.

Once you realise that, everything changes.

Why we freeze in the first place

Freezing usually doesn’t happen because you don’t know enough.

It happens because:

• The question is framed differently to how you normally think about the topic (which is common, because it’s often because their brain is trying to interpret your words the way they think about the topic. So there’s a translation that needs to occur)
• You’re trying to answer perfectly instead of clearly (some questions have alot of layers, and you get stuck on which to answer)
• You feel pressure to respond instantly

Your brain goes into protection mode, not thinking mode.

So instead of trying to be faster, the goal is to be more structured.

A simple two-step process to think on your feet

This is the approach I use consistently, and it works in meetings, workshops, interviews, and leadership conversations. Even in your personal relationship at home.

Step 1: Reframe the question in your own words

Start by restating the question before answering it.

You’ll hear politicians and experienced leaders do this all the time. Phrases like:

• “So what you’re asking is…”
• “If I’ve understood you correctly, you want to know…”
• “Let me check I’ve got this right…”

This step does three powerful things at once:

1. It signals you’re listening The person asking the question feels heard and respected.
2. It confirms understanding If you’ve misunderstood, they can correct you before you answer.
3. It buys you thinking time Even a few seconds of structured speaking buypasses the “Umms” and “Ahhs” and gives your brain space to organise a response.

You’re no longer frozen, you’re already talking, with purpose.

Step 2: Relate it to something you already know

Most questions don’t come out of nowhere.

They’re usually connected to:

• A concept you’ve just discussed
• A similar scenario you’ve seen before
• A principle, pattern, or example you’re familiar with

You don’t need the perfect answer immediately. You need a starting point.

By talking through something related (a comparable example, a known constraint, a previous experience) your thinking begins to align with the question. Often, the answer becomes clearer as you speak.

This isn’t guessing. It’s reasoning out loud in a grounded, professional way.

Once the connection clicks, you can land the answer with confidence.

For example: As a developer, you’re in a client sprint showcase, presenting a completed MDA table and form build for a student management solution. They interrupt to seemingly left-field ask “if all their team can see the same thing”. You’re flustered for a moment because the wording doesn’t initially click with terminology you’re used to. But if you reframe the question first “So what you’re asking is whether both the primary users of teachers and the advanced users of the admin team will experience the same form when they open the record?” after a nod, you’ll be confident to relate it to what you were already presenting and continue with “yes, because of our simple role structure all of these fields I’m showing you now for this student record will appear consistent with all forms visible for all users within the team. Excepting the additional ‘admin’ section we’ll build in the next sprint which will be restricted to the admin users”.

Why this works so well

This approach (reframe, then relate) changes how you’re perceived.

You come across as:

• Calm under pressure
• Thoughtful rather than reactive
• Someone who listens before responding
• Grounded, even when you don’t have an instant answer

And importantly, it’s honest.

You’re not pretending to know everything. You’re demonstrating how you think, which, in many professional settings, matters more than having a perfectly packaged response.

One final mindset shift

You don’t need to fear difficult questions.

They’re usually a sign of:

• Engagement
• Curiosity
• Trust that you can handle nuance

When you stop trying to answer immediately and start answering deliberately, those moments become opportunities instead of threats.

Reframe. Relate. Respond.

That’s how you think on your feet like a pro.

What’s the hardest question you’ve ever been asked in a meeting or workshop? I’d love to hear it in the comments.