Being put on the spot

**Fanowene** · 10-17-2008, 09:13 PM

In another thread (
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) we talked about having to translate our thoughts and how that sometimes takes time.

So what do you do when you are put on the spot and you don't know what to say? Do you say that you don't know what to say, do you go silent, do you have something random prepared to say in those situations, or .... ? What do you do?

**rara avis** · 10-17-2008, 09:25 PM

Depends on the specific situation- but I don't usually have much problem saying I don't know yet, give me a minute, or I need more information.

Unless -in a business meeting, say- I suspect that if I surrender the ball momentarily, stupid people are going to grab it and run with it. Then I might stall by thinking out loud or asking questions until I can say something more conclusive.

**Algol** · 10-17-2008, 10:36 PM

Telling people you will get back to them (and following up!) works remarkably well in business. I like to word things carefully, etc. so I use this a lot. As rara suggested, saying I don't know and offering to find out if the situation calls for it can work too.

**ElstonGunn** · 10-17-2008, 11:22 PM

It depends for me, too. In business situations, I wait to see if the person or people I'm talking to have any ideas, and then I try to evaluate those ideas. In social situations, I sort of clam up, or at best, offer some kind of comment like the other person is selling me aluminum siding-- "Yeah, really. How about that" or "Seriously, isn't that the way it goes?"

**Monte314** · 10-18-2008, 03:03 PM

I usually ask for more information to make sure I understand what is being asked. Sometime you have to say, "I don't know".

**Reanne** · 10-19-2008, 06:33 AM

I usually crack some joke basically to break the ice! :-p

**punkyplatypus** · 10-19-2008, 07:10 AM

In general I freeze up & my mind goes blank. Knowing that I have to answer, I sometimes bs my way out of it. If there was a time I would be known to lie, this would be it. For example, during job interviews when I'm asked, "Tell me a time that {situation} happened and how you dealt with it." Even though there was a time that I was in the given situation, I can't remember it. So I fabricate an answer.

If I don't understand the question, I ask for them to clarify, explain, or reword their question. Most people asking questions want an answer and are willing to help who they're asking understand the situation so that they can get that answer. If there isn't a rush to get the answer and accuracy is important, I'll ask for a minute to think.

If I seriously don't know the answer, I tell them I don't know. If it's important enough, I try to help them find the answer.

If the question is unimportant (like, "what's your favorite color?") I'll either shrug my shoulders or just give any answer.

I've also been known to answer questions with other questions. This may take us off topic, but it gives me a moment to evaluate the original question so I can answer it properly if we ever return to it.

**radames** · 10-19-2008, 08:51 AM

Usually I have an innate ability to find a way to repeat the question back to them in a manner that sounds like I am answering while, at the same time, analyzing what they have asked in order to find a solution. I usually don't have much trouble in thinking "quickly on my feet." Furthermore, I always look at life as one big lesson and am constantly picking up on little "tidbits" of information and storing them away. Most likely the person will be asking me about something that I have analyzed before and I could go on and on about the subject.

**Synamon** · 10-19-2008, 09:00 AM

Sometimes if you let the silence stretch out they will answer their own question. They were just talking out loud and didn't really need an answer from you. I will often say something like "that is an interesting question" and ask what they think. Nothing wrong with asking them for clarification or saying "I'm not sure".

**dragonsscout** · 10-19-2008, 10:45 AM

If I'm put on the spot and don't have anything already prepared, I'll do one of five things, largely depending on the situation.
1. Stumble my way through it.
2. Say, "I don't really know." or "I'll get back to you on that after I do some research."
3. Make a guess, adding that it's a guess and that I'm not sure, it's just my immediate reaction.
4. Ask for clarification. A lot of times this helps me formulate an answer, giving me time to think and narrowing down the options and inputs.
5. Deflect it. Change the subject, give a ridiculous answer, etc.

**Vagrant** · 10-19-2008, 11:30 AM

Usually if I'm put on the spot, I freeze my emotions and restart my thinking process really quickly -- that way I can clearly speak what I'm thinking. If I don't know, I'll just state I don't know.

Often though, intuition throws me a curveball because I'll know something, but won't have justification, and then I'll be asked to explain why I think that.

**enfpchick** · 10-19-2008, 11:34 AM

I love to be put on the spot!

Its a chance for my enfp improve skills to shine through.
And i love to see people's faces when I do this especially when i don't know much about the topic.

**pinkroger** · 10-20-2008, 03:42 AM

I hate being put on the spot, but I'm surprisingly good at it. For example, I can go into situations where I know I don't have a plan, but I know as soon as I'm put in that situation, I'll immediately formulate a plan in my mind. In fact, most of the time, this is a pretty good plan, because it is very well adapted to the immediate situation.

I think this also goes along with my surprising ability to lie. It's probably just that I can think of so many alternative possibilities to counteract the one about which I'm lying.

**alphawolf** · 10-20-2008, 04:11 AM

If it's about something which I really know, then I won't hesitate to take that opportunity to fill the room with practically applicable knowledge and confidence. They will leave knowing without a doubt that there is no better person than me for the job.

If it's about something which is fruitless and they know that I don't want to discuss, then I will slam the door powerfully without saying a word. They will leave knowing that they will respect me and tread lighter in the future (engage me in a rational debate) should they decide to revisit this topic.

If it's about something which I don't know, then I say loudly and clearly that I don't have a single clue but I know a person who does.

10-17-2008, 09:13 PM	#1
Fanowene Member [34%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,377	In another thread ( To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ) we talked about having to translate our thoughts and how that sometimes takes time. So what do you do when you are put on the spot and you don't know what to say? Do you say that you don't know what to say, do you go silent, do you have something random prepared to say in those situations, or .... ? What do you do?
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10-17-2008, 09:25 PM	#2
rara avis Core Member [163%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6,521	Depends on the specific situation- but I don't usually have much problem saying I don't know yet, give me a minute, or I need more information. Unless -in a business meeting, say- I suspect that if I surrender the ball momentarily, stupid people are going to grab it and run with it. Then I might stall by thinking out loud or asking questions until I can say something more conclusive.
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10-17-2008, 10:36 PM	#3
Algol Member [17%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 703	Telling people you will get back to them (and following up!) works remarkably well in business. I like to word things carefully, etc. so I use this a lot. As rara suggested, saying I don't know and offering to find out if the situation calls for it can work too.
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10-17-2008, 11:22 PM	#4
ElstonGunn Core Member [152%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,098	It depends for me, too. In business situations, I wait to see if the person or people I'm talking to have any ideas, and then I try to evaluate those ideas. In social situations, I sort of clam up, or at best, offer some kind of comment like the other person is selling me aluminum siding-- "Yeah, really. How about that" or "Seriously, isn't that the way it goes?"
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10-18-2008, 03:03 PM	#5
Monte314 Core Member [412%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16,504	I usually ask for more information to make sure I understand what is being asked. Sometime you have to say, "I don't know".
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10-19-2008, 06:33 AM	#6
Reanne Member [02%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 100	I usually crack some joke basically to break the ice! :-p
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10-19-2008, 07:10 AM	#7
punkyplatypus Member [13%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 526	In general I freeze up & my mind goes blank. Knowing that I have to answer, I sometimes bs my way out of it. If there was a time I would be known to lie, this would be it. For example, during job interviews when I'm asked, "Tell me a time that {situation} happened and how you dealt with it." Even though there was a time that I was in the given situation, I can't remember it. So I fabricate an answer. If I don't understand the question, I ask for them to clarify, explain, or reword their question. Most people asking questions want an answer and are willing to help who they're asking understand the situation so that they can get that answer. If there isn't a rush to get the answer and accuracy is important, I'll ask for a minute to think. If I seriously don't know the answer, I tell them I don't know. If it's important enough, I try to help them find the answer. If the question is unimportant (like, "what's your favorite color?") I'll either shrug my shoulders or just give any answer. I've also been known to answer questions with other questions. This may take us off topic, but it gives me a moment to evaluate the original question so I can answer it properly if we ever return to it.
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10-19-2008, 08:51 AM	#8
radames Member [04%] MBTI: IxTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 190	Usually I have an innate ability to find a way to repeat the question back to them in a manner that sounds like I am answering while, at the same time, analyzing what they have asked in order to find a solution. I usually don't have much trouble in thinking "quickly on my feet." Furthermore, I always look at life as one big lesson and am constantly picking up on little "tidbits" of information and storing them away. Most likely the person will be asking me about something that I have analyzed before and I could go on and on about the subject.
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10-19-2008, 09:00 AM	#9
Synamon Core Member [465%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 18,616	Sometimes if you let the silence stretch out they will answer their own question. They were just talking out loud and didn't really need an answer from you. I will often say something like "that is an interesting question" and ask what they think. Nothing wrong with asking them for clarification or saying "I'm not sure".
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10-19-2008, 10:45 AM	#10
dragonsscout Member [47%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,886	If I'm put on the spot and don't have anything already prepared, I'll do one of five things, largely depending on the situation. 1. Stumble my way through it. 2. Say, "I don't really know." or "I'll get back to you on that after I do some research." 3. Make a guess, adding that it's a guess and that I'm not sure, it's just my immediate reaction. 4. Ask for clarification. A lot of times this helps me formulate an answer, giving me time to think and narrowing down the options and inputs. 5. Deflect it. Change the subject, give a ridiculous answer, etc.
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10-19-2008, 11:30 AM	#11
Vagrant Core Member [157%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6,312	Usually if I'm put on the spot, I freeze my emotions and restart my thinking process really quickly -- that way I can clearly speak what I'm thinking. If I don't know, I'll just state I don't know. Often though, intuition throws me a curveball because I'll know something, but won't have justification, and then I'll be asked to explain why I think that.
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10-19-2008, 11:34 AM	#12
enfpchick Member [20%] MBTI: ENFP Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 803	I love to be put on the spot! Its a chance for my enfp improve skills to shine through. And i love to see people's faces when I do this especially when i don't know much about the topic.
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10-20-2008, 03:42 AM	#13
pinkroger Banned MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 242	I hate being put on the spot, but I'm surprisingly good at it. For example, I can go into situations where I know I don't have a plan, but I know as soon as I'm put in that situation, I'll immediately formulate a plan in my mind. In fact, most of the time, this is a pretty good plan, because it is very well adapted to the immediate situation. I think this also goes along with my surprising ability to lie. It's probably just that I can think of so many alternative possibilities to counteract the one about which I'm lying.
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10-20-2008, 04:11 AM	#14
alphawolf Veteran Member [59%] MBTI: INFJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,361	If it's about something which I really know, then I won't hesitate to take that opportunity to fill the room with practically applicable knowledge and confidence. They will leave knowing without a doubt that there is no better person than me for the job. If it's about something which is fruitless and they know that I don't want to discuss, then I will slam the door powerfully without saying a word. They will leave knowing that they will respect me and tread lighter in the future (engage me in a rational debate) should they decide to revisit this topic. If it's about something which I don't know, then I say loudly and clearly that I don't have a single clue but I know a person who does.
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