As New Yorkers, we tend to rush to Starbucks, rush to work, rush to meetings, and then, of course, rush through our preparatory work for presentations and Q and A sessions. But your colleagues will respond best to a clearly defined and deliberate speaking style. So how can you improve your preparation for Q and A sessions in small business meetings, and slow yourself down a bit?

To being with, write down the top five questions you think you will be asked, and make notes in advance of the meeting as to how you will answer them. Put your notes on your Ipad if you want. Just bullet points, nothing fancy. Be sure to have statistics next to your bullet points to back up your answers. Keep the notes close by during your Q and A.

If you feel lost while answering a question, try taking Leon Fletcher’s advice in How to Speak Like A Pro , and put a little time pattern on the topic. Think “what is the past, present, and future issues surrounding this topic?”. This little bit of craft might help you to speak at length, and avoid rambling.

Finally, take your time and breathe. Breathe before answering a question, and allow for silence (it’s powerful) before you speak.

If you would like to work on your presentation or Q and A technique, give me a call , and we can set up a free, 20 minute, in-person consultation to further discuss your needs.