According to Lee Iacocca, the best thing you can do for your career is learn to think on your feet. His words are echoed by James Hayes, former head of the American Management Association: "Leaders who are inarticulate make us all uneasy."

There are dozen of techniques that will enable you to sound quick-witted under pressure, but let me illustrate one of my favorites with the story of a family friend. Judy was a stay-at-home mom until her daughter reached school-age. Then Judy studied for and obtained a realtor's license. Armed with the certificate and a well-structured business plan, she made an appointment with a loan officer at a local bank. During the meeting, he listening attentively as Judy laid out her plans. Finally, he spoke: "Does your husband know you're doing this?" he wanted to know.

Judy asked a question of her own: "Does your wife know you're asking questions like that?" As he stuttered and sputtered his way though a reply, Judy packed up her papers and took her business elsewhere. The officer is still approving (or "dis"approving) loans. Judy, however, has moved on. Today, she is a multi-millionaire.

The trick she used was to listen for a word in the sentence someone just spoke ("husband") and to give your reply using a related word ("wife"). With some practice and some intent listening, you can do as well as our heroine.

Her actions help us to understand the words of poet Kahlil Gibran: "I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers."

Dr. Marlene Caroselli, author of 53 business books (see Amazon.com) is an international keynote speaker and corporate trainer for Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and professional organizations. You can reach her at mccpd@frontiernet.net.