Learn by situation - Instead of "give a moment"

"give a moment" can feel a little generic. Here are some alternative ways to ask for a short pause, depending on the context and your desired tone:

More Direct & Efficient:

• "Just a quick sec."
• "One moment, please."
• "Hold on one sec."
• "Let me quickly..." (followed by the action)
• "I'll be right with you."
• "Allow me a brief pause."

More Collaborative & Polite:

• "Could I have a brief moment to..."
• "Would you mind if I took a quick second to..."
• "Let me just take a moment to..."
• "I'll just need a quick minute to..."
• "Give me one quick moment to process this."
• "Just need a brief moment to look into that."

More Specific (when appropriate):

• "Let me quickly check..."
• "Allow me a moment to pull up that information."
• "Just need a second to confirm..."
• "Let me take a quick look at..."

When you need slightly longer:

• "Could I have a minute or two to..."
• "I'll just need a couple of minutes to..."
• "Please allow me a brief moment to gather my thoughts."

Things to consider when choosing:

• Your relationship with the person: You might use a more casual phrase with a close team member than with a senior leader.
• The urgency: "Quick sec" implies a shorter time than "a minute or two."
• The reason for the pause: Being slightly more specific can sometimes be helpful.
• Your personal style: Choose a phrase that feels natural and comfortable for you to say.

Let's take some of those alternatives and see how you might use them in a real work scenario with your lead or a team member.

Scenario 1: You need a moment to find some information during a discussion.

Instead of: "Give a moment to find that report."

You could say:

• More Direct & Efficient: "Just a quick sec, let me pull that up." (Spoken)
• More Collaborative & Polite: "Could I have a brief moment to locate that report?" (Spoken or written)
• More Specific: "Allow me a moment to access that report on my system." (Spoken or written)
• Slightly Longer: "I'll just need a minute to find that document for you." (Spoken)

Scenario 2: Your lead asks you to do something, and you need a moment to adjust your current task.

Instead of: "Give a moment to switch to that."

You could say:

• More Direct & Efficient: "One moment, please, while I shift gears." (Spoken)
• More Collaborative & Polite: "Would you mind if I took a quick second to reorient?" (Spoken)
• More Specific: "Let me just take a moment to save my current work before I switch to that." (Spoken)
• Slightly Longer: "I'll just need a couple of minutes to wrap up this quick thing and then I can focus on that." (Spoken)

Scenario 3: You're presenting and need a brief pause to collect your thoughts.

Instead of: "Give a moment." (This feels a bit abrupt in this context)

You could say:

• More Collaborative & Polite: "Could I have a brief moment to gather my thoughts on this point?" (Spoken)
• More Specific: "Just a brief pause while I organize my next point." (Spoken)
• Slightly Longer: "Please allow me a brief moment to consider the implications of that." (Spoken)

Key takeaways:

• Consider your audience and the situation: Choose a phrase that fits the context and your relationship with the person.
• Be clear about the purpose of the pause (if needed): Briefly mentioning what you need the moment for can be helpful.
• Be mindful of the duration: "Quick sec" implies a very short time, while "a minute or two" sets a slightly longer expectation.

Do any of these scenarios resonate with situations you encounter? Would you like more examples or to explore how to phrase something specific you have in mind? I'm here to help you! 😊 

Please add comment to let us know!!

By varying your language, you can sound more engaging and precise in your communication. Good luck!