Why are some people better at thinking on their feet and working under pressure than others?

Question

I fall to pieces under pressure and prefer tasks where I think things through properly and clearly. Why are some people very good at working under pressure and thinking on their feet and others have to work harder at it

Answer 1

Me too, some people are just more confident and others get so nervous they just break.

Answer 2

Who do some smart people do well on game shows and others completely fold? The ability to 'think under fire' is as much a genetic component as any other trait, physical or not. Some people are simply born with a lower level of adrenaline release triggers, meaning they are able to keep thinking even in situations where someone else might be panicking or going to pieces.

Also, there are situations where you can be 'trained' to react in a certain way, so that even if you do feel panicked, your training takes over and you act on the conditioned reflex (police, fire fighter, ambulance, soldier, these professions spring the quickest to mind.) You are not so much thinking on your feet as reacting to the thinking/conditioning you endured beforehand.

One's self confidence also affects one's ability to think on one's feet. Its very hard for someone who doesn't value their opinions to be able to take charge and act in a situation, since what they are acting on is their own belief that they can handle the situation. The more self-confident you are in whatever aspect of your life, the more likely you are to be able to think clearly when a crisis does occur. People who are very comfortable in their kitchens don't panic when something starts to smell like its burning or several things happen at once. That confidence, partly experience and partly because they enjoy that atmosphere, translates into being relaxed when a crisis does occur.

Answer 3

If everyone was good at everything, the universe would be horribly unbalanced. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.