How to buy time before speaking

Stumped.

That came out the blue.

Someone has asked you a question in a presentation or the boss has buttonholed you for your opinion. ?.

You were hopimg to keep your head down for this meeting when suddenly they’re about your project’s status.

You find the need to gather your thoughts before you give that update.  (Here’s how to do that.)

• It’s not like you don’t have answers or opinions but you’ve not shaped your own response yet.
• Maybe there are several conflicting perspectives your holding in your head.
• Possibly finding the right way to express your response is causing a mental mush.

Here are 11 ways to buy time before speaking

1. Pause

to cue that you’re about to think, you may initiate with a “hummm…” Useful too on phone calls or virtually when your video is off as they’ll know the pause is a thinking silence.

2. “Let me think about that…”

giving the impression that this actually deserves some thought.

3. Repeat the question

especially in a group and virtually. Not everyone hears it the first time round.

4. Ask the question back

ensuring your intonation is up at the end so the tone is curious.

5. Take a sip of water

(only of it’s there. Miming may look odd ?)

6. Move

(not out the room!)
Studies show that gestures and movement preempt thought, helping you find your words.

7. Rephrase the question

clarifying it for you and the questioner.

8. Talk about the question

to buy time before giving a more personal answer:
e.g. “There are different approaches… “
” Some people think… ”

9. Ask about their motivation in asking the question

e.g. I’m curious to what made you ask.
What’s the reason you ask?

10. Redirect the question

to divert the topic such as when someone asks you something completely off the point. You may want to park it and come back to it later.

11. Use humour

that doesn’t belittle the questioner or the question.

Your Action:

1. Which of the above pointers – think two or three – would you be most comfortable using?

2. Next time you’re flummoxed when asked a question or for your opinion, STOP.

3. Pick the option that’s in the forefront of your mind.

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Photo courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko at pexels.com