Thinking on Your Feet for Business Leaders

This workshop is a highly practical, full-day workshop designed for chairmen, CFOs, general managers, and senior executives who must respond effectively to unexpected questions and challenging conversations. Participants learn and practise the PACER framework (Pause, Ask, Consider, Engage, Respond) and the Six Lenses approach to improve clarity, confidence, and decision-making under pressure. Through 13 hands-on activities, boardroom simulations, role plays, and real-world finance and governance scenarios, leaders develop a repeatable process for handling difficult questions with composure and credibility. By the end of the programme, participants leave with practical tools, a personal practice plan, and the confidence to think clearly when the stakes are high.
Key topics covered
• Explore why leaders freeze in high-stakes situations and the organisational and personal costs of delayed or rushed decisions.
•Learn the PACER methodology and practise applying it in structured decision-making scenarios.
•Develop the ability to broaden initial reactions into more balanced, well-rounded decisions by applying the Six Lenses.
•Apply PACER specifically to board-level discussions, stakeholder management, and governance challenges.
•Practise with scenarios modelled on finance, risk, and governance roles to build confidence in applying the framework.
•Leave with a simple, low-effort daily practice to maintain and strengthen decision-making skills long after the programme ends.