Despite all our efforts to be well prepared, we occasionally get caught off guard or surprised at times when we need some time to think, even if only for a few seconds.
Talking slowly gives you the seconds to process more thoughts. This comes in handy when answering questions following a public presentation or during negotiations.
Slow talking is more than drawling out your words. In fact, prolonging your vowels can be an annoyance to your audience. There are opportunities at the beginning and throughout a response.
To slow down at the beginning you can use such phrases as, that is a very good question, or the situation is very complex and is not easy to explain - let me see if I can summarize the issues. The latter could be extended into minutes without saying anything significant. Pausing for a brief moment before responding often depicts a certain degree of maturity. The pause can include a long uummmm while stroking the chin in the middle of a response.
In mid-statement use such phrases as, on the other hand, and besides or I've heard it said. Separate your words as you do when trying to achieve emphasis on the meaning of each word.
Gain a few more seconds at the end by ending with such conjunctions as: and, or, so and yet. This implies there is more to come and gives you time for second thoughts.
In all places you can always intersperse silence while appearing to pose something significant. Practice your prolongation gestures in front of a mirror.
If you're a slow thinker, you will have to spend more time developing the skill of talking slowly.
In desperation, there's always the delaying tactic, "What do you think?" Or, say, "Give me a moment to think about that" or, "I'll deal with that later."
Stories from members will add great value to these maxims.
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