Thinking on the Spot
£320
Respond with Confidence in High-Pressure Situations
Overview
In government and public sector roles, the ability to think clearly and respond effectively in real time is essential to delivering credible advice, influencing decisions, and supporting effective public services.
Whether in meetings, briefings, stakeholder discussions, or presenting analysis to senior leaders, professionals are often required to respond quickly, structure thinking under pressure, and communicate with clarity and authority.
This practical workshop develops the skills needed to perform effectively in these situations. It provides structured techniques to help you think on your feet, organise your thinking quickly, and communicate responses in a clear, concise, and persuasive way.
While some individuals appear naturally quick in discussion, this is a core professional capability that can be developed and strengthened through practice and technique.
The session is highly interactive, with applied exercises designed to reflect real public sector working environments, including live questioning and structured response practice.
Who is this seminar for?
This course is designed for public sector professionals who are required to contribute to discussions, provide advice, or support decision-making in live settings.
It is particularly relevant for those working in:
- Policy and strategy roles
- Analysis, insight, and advisory functions
- Programme and service delivery teams
- Senior support and stakeholder-facing roles
- Civil service and wider public sector organisations
How you will benefit
This workshop will help you to:
- Respond more effectively and confidently in meetings and discussions
- Structure thinking quickly when challenged or asked questions at short notice
- Communicate advice and analysis with clarity and authority
- Improve credibility and influence with senior colleagues and decision-makers
- Strengthen performance in high-pressure, time-sensitive interactions
These skills directly support stronger decision-making, clearer communication, and more effective engagement across government and public services.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Respond confidently to unexpected questions in professional settings
- Structure clear, concise, and well-evidenced responses under pressure
- Improve clarity and impact in verbal communication
- Maintain composure and control in fast-moving discussions
- Increase influence and effectiveness in stakeholder interactions
Course Timing
| Time Zone | Start Time | Finish Time |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) | 12:00 | 16:30 |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 08:00 | 12:30 |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 13:00 | 17:30 |
Currency & Pricing
Course fees are automatically displayed in your local currency during registration.
- Select your country in the registration form
- The system detects your region
- Prices are converted into your local currency automatically
- Exchange rates are updated dynamically at checkout
£320
Agenda
Session 1: Taking Control in Live Discussions
- Creating thinking space in fast-moving conversations (six practical techniques)
- Active listening to improve clarity and response quality
- Using negotiation techniques to manage questions and discussions effectively
- Break
Session 2: Structuring Clear and Effective Responses
- Practical frameworks for structured, concise answers
- Communicating with clarity: making every word count
- Using influence techniques in professional responses
- Integrating data, evidence, and narrative effectively
- Managing follow-up questions and maintaining control of responses
- Break
Session 3: Applied Practice Workshop
- Live practice of response techniques in realistic scenarios
- Short participant statements followed by on-the-spot questioning
- Applying structured thinking under pressure
- Building clarity, confidence, and influence in real time
- Final questions and discussion
£320
About Your Trainer: Tony Cash
Expert training in policy making, strategy and better regulation for government Tony Cash is a public sector training specialist in policy development, strategy and regulatory best practice. He is a former UK civil servant with senior experience in government policy, strategy and internal capability development. He works with government organisations in the UK and internationally…