Thinking on your feet is overhyped.
There is value in being able to handle a googly from a key stakeholder - but 9 times out of 10, it is about anticipating such questions.
An exemplar of such preparation is an executive in an oil major. He spends time before critical meetings, looking at the participant list and asking - what might this person ask? He creates a list of "possible questions" and if there are any he can't answer, a team member will work on it.
When preparing for key meetings, clients sometimes rehearse their presentation with me. I ask lots of questions. Many of my questions don't add value - their stakeholders won't ask these. However, there are usually 1 or 2 that reveal aspects they haven't considered.
Another useful practice is the 'meeting before the meeting'. This is frowned upon because it encourages groupism and politics. However, if you can avoid that, such meetings reveal how stakeholders think- so you can be prepared.
The beauty of preparation is not that you can predict every question. However, the process makes you think broadly, and you will be better prepared to answer questions
Don't obsess on your inability to think on your feet. Better preparation can give you the edge you seek.
