Putting together coherent thoughts is hard. It is even harder to think critically when you are under some sort of pressure. Being under pressure affects your thought process because it lowers your IQ and you are likely to make the wrong decision. When life has thrown too many things for you to undertake with so little time, pressure kicks in. Also, you might have too many tasks to accomplish at work or school within a short time and this creates pressure on you to perform well.
The reality is that situations are not an exception but rather they are the norms in our lives. We live in a world where so much is expected of us within a short time and making the wrong decisions is very expensive because there is no room for error.
The good thing about this situation is that we can train ourselves on how to think critically under pressure and make the right decisions on our feet at that particular time. Once we have mastered the art, we are able to make the right decisions despite mounting pressure on our heads.
In this article, we shall discuss different ways in which you can learn how to think critically when you are under pressure.
Critical Thinking Under Pressure
Develop Confidence
Confidence entails belief in your abilities. It is a trait that can be developed over time as it is one of the most integral traits that is necessary for you to make good decisions when under pressure. When you have confidence, you can express yourself in a competent, intelligent way that makes people trust your decisions due to the mental toughness you have developed.
Also, confidence helps you take responsibility for your decisions whenever they are questioned at a later time. It is easy to convince whoever is questioning the rationale for the decision you made if you speak and carry yourself in a confident manner.
Be Prepared
One of the biggest secrets to thinking on your feet is ensuring that you are always well prepared for the things that require your attention. This entails anticipating scenarios and having a ready plan on how you will deal with them. For instance, if you are headed for a meeting, you should anticipate all questions that will be asked and prepare adequately so that you are not caught off guard.
Also, preparation entails doing research and appraising yourself about a certain topic that you are expected to decide on. When you have enough information about the subject, it is relatively easy for you to make the right decision regardless of the amount of pressure that has been thrown your way.
Gain Self-Control
This entails putting your thoughts, emotions, time, and everything about yourself together. If you are not able to manage yourself, it will be difficult for you to manage a tough situation. You should ensure that you are breathing properly, having the right posture, having rational feelings, and having control over your general stature as a person. When you are in a good stature, you are certain that you will be able to bring together the best possible decision when you are in a critical position where you are expected to think on your feet.
Also, a self-controlled person is likely to be trusted by those around him. If you are a team leader, other people are watching you as you make a decision and it is important that you show composure just like an army general does while on the front-line during a war.
Get the Facts Right
Once you have relaxed and put your act together as recommended above, you can now ask to be furnished with the details of the issue at hand. You will ask for the facts of the matter and issue, verify its source and how reputable the source is, check the credibility of the source, and consider any assumptions that have been made and how reasonable they are.
To make the right decision in any particular instance calls for one to be armed with the right facts. A mistake in this case means that you will make the wrong decision even if you had the right motive. Since this situation is happening under pressure, you should be quick to ask clear and concise questions because you have limited time to make a decision.
If you are able to get your facts right at this stage, you are one step ahead of arriving at the best decision ever. Also, you will be able to stand by the decision you will have made if called upon to do so by your superiors or anyone else who will be interested in understanding how you arrived at the decision you made.
Seek Clarification
While a decision is required promptly, it is important to find an opportunity to consult with someone else about the decision you are about to take. A Consultation could also mean clarification about the decision that you would like to take. A problem shared is a problem solved and it is, therefore, important to reach out to another member of the team to hear their opinion regarding the matter at hand. If there is time for a consultation you should reach out to a trusted member to hear about the input they have.
Most good decisions usually follow a consultative process that weighs all the sides and looks at the impact of the decision from all sides. Such a decision is usually the best for all stakeholders who are involved because it usually takes their considerations and evaluates the effects it will have on everyone who is on board. While working under pressure may not afford time for a detailed consultation, it is necessary to at least attempt to consult so that your decision is acceptable to everyone.
Ask for more time
Rather than make a wrong decision because of the pressure you are under, you can request to defer the decision in order for you to relax and gather more information about the subject matter if this is a possibility.
