Physical Time-Buyers

Your body can buy time while your brain works. Take a slow sip of water — it is expected and unremarkable. Stand up and walk toward the whiteboard, saying "Let me think about this visually." Adjust your glasses. Shift your posture deliberately.

Place the question in broader context before answering: "Before I respond, it helps to know where this fits in the bigger picture..." This brief setup buys time and gives the audience a frame for receiving the answer.