introverted thinking

[parabloody]

I am a consultant for one of the big management consultant companies. I just came off yet another call where people ask me questions in the moment and I know the answer, I know all the complexity, but my brain paralyses and I feel I don't even know where to begin or what to say and I end up just saying something stupid of over complex.

I feel I can't spontaneously form thoughts or responses.

I am the kind of person who is better in writing or better to go away and process my thoughts and come back with answers - which are usually relevant and insightful (from feedback I've had in the past)

I know it is affecting my success. I so badly want to be an "on the spot" thinker but I am just not.

Does anyone know whether it is possible to change this?

I don't think you can change but you can fudge it a bit.

Use the old debating technique of repeating the question back, to help you focus your thoughts.

Can you share content in advance and gathering questions before the meeting starts, from key stakeholders at least, if not everyone? You can also make some notes in advance if you think you know where additional questions might pop up

Turn it round on them and ask them or someone else for a view so you can build on that. Or ask for context around the question to gather your thoughts

Park questions til the end (collect them in the chat) so you have time to prepare and address each in turn

Saying outright you'll come back to them. I'd rather a proper answer that's been considered than immediate waffle. I know people who do that - it's easy to tell who is stalling for time because they don't know and who actually wants to get it right

I'm no expert but have you tried

1. anticipating likely questions ahead of time?
2. working out what the steps are that you take when you feel your brain is working to come up with/articulate the answer, and making a shortcut for that to use in the moment.

This is me, I find myself going back and emailing/redialling the person to actually give a decent answer. It’s odd because the question could be super easy to answer but it just doesn’t come out.

Luckily my work know me and have seen this everyday but if I were to do an interview for example I always fluff it and I can tell they think I’m a plonker.

I don’t really have an answer but I’d like one too.