Thinking fast and clearly on your feet

If only I had thought to say that …

Whether responding to a question at a board meeting, organizing a team responding to a potential breach, or addressing another business unit’s project meeting, a cybersecurity leader is routinely put on the spot in pressing situations where there is no script. I have wished countless times that I could somehow rewind the clock to revise an answer I gave just minutes earlier in a key meeting. Being able to quickly and effectively organize and express your thoughts in the heat of a moment is an important skill because in many situations there is no second chance.

Fortunately, it is a skill one can build.

Some of the best ways to hone the crucial skill of “thinking on your feet” include:

Do your homework. Nothing tops knowing your stuff - developing a detailed understanding of your topic forms a foundation for speaking confidently in dynamic situations.

Security leaders should also continuously build their broader knowledge base to be able to explain “the why” by actively following cybersecurity news, research publications, and threat intelligence reports to remain informed about emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and risks.

Anticipate questions. Know your audience - what questions, concerns, or pushbacks may they have based on their roles and backgrounds? Understanding the big picture of how your work impacts others can help you anticipate and respond to questions or concerns from other parts of the business.

Getting input from others can also help here - Internal Audit can be a great partner in helping anticipate questions from senior leadership and the board.

Active listening. Back when I was in the federal government, I participated in a senior executive training program and one of the courses was improv comedy! A group of Department of Defense executives going to a comedy club for training seemed really strange, but the improv training taught us active listening - paying close attention to the question or point being made before formulating a response. Fully understanding the question is critical to giving the best answer.

Asking clarifying questions and summarizing the key points can help ensure accurate understanding, too.

Cultivate calm under pressure. Maintaining composure in stressful situations helps foster clear thinking and effective decision-making. This is easier said than done for some of us, but finding stress management techniques that work for you can help, such as:

• Practicing mindfulness techniques to stay present and focused.

• Using deep breathing to calm your nerves and reduce anxiety.

• Pushing out negative thoughts with positive affirmations.

Remember that the group you are speaking with likely does not know your topic as well as you do, and though your heart feels like it is racing, they actually do not notice a thing.

Practice. Just as you hone incident response procedures with tabletop exercises, use "what-if" scenarios and questions to hone your ability to respond to questions and others’ points.

• Think through the key points for the questions you anticipate and package them in succinct and impactful answers.

• Stand up and practice aloud (yes, literally). Thinking through an answer in your mind is different from speaking it aloud. This may seem unnecessary, but it helps organize thoughts, craft answers that are brief and thorough, and improve speaking tone and speed. I have found this practice particularly helpful in preparing for speaking to large groups, e.g., seminars and conference presentations.

If you want to go from an A to an A+, record yourself practicing answers to questions and then watch your playback. It will definitely help you sharpen the saw.

One caution – rehearse your thoughts, do not memorize. Listen and respond to each unique question with a unique answer, not a prepackaged statement.

Seek feedback and continuous improvement.

• Soliciting feedback from peers, mentors, and stakeholders after key meetings will help you identify opportunities for improvement.

• Public speaking – whether company or industry events, each experience of being on a stage or speaking to a group and fielding Q&A sessions builds skills and confidence. Presenting to diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders, is also an effective way to broaden your comfort zone.

• Teaching – getting involved in company or external teaching opportunities can help build speaking and people skills, as well as practice fielding questions.

• Serving on a nonprofit/community board – this can be another experience that helps build executive presence, speaking skills, and comfort asking and answering questions – all keys to thinking on your feet.

Investing the time to prepare and hone your skills can make a substantial difference in how well you think on your feet in important moments. Upping your level of effectiveness in these situations can boost your executive presence and help your program succeed. Greater confidence and comfort also enables your values, passion, optimism, humor, and other personal qualities to shine through, developing your connection with your audience.

Hold Fast

Stay True