Thinking On Your Feet

How to Answer Questions on the Spot and Shine in Conversation

A Handbook for Lawyers and Other Professionals

You’re in a meeting and someone asks you a question. It’s in your wheelhouse, you know the answer, but stumble through your response. “Umm, uhh, well…” In fact, it feels like no matter how much you prepare, you never sound as smart and articulate as you’d like. 

In Thinking On Your Feet, former lawyer and communication coach Chris Graham offers a practical framework for getting better on the spot. You’ll learn simple tools for giving clear, thoughtful responses to unexpected questions, plus ways to buy time to organize your thoughts. You'll also learn how to deal with a difficult or distracted audience and how to tame your fear of filler words.

These are the same techniques Chris has shared with more than 20,000 professionals across North America, all brought to life through his research, reflection, and storytelling.

Published by Entrechat Press, Toronto.

***

Thinking On Your Feet will be published in Canada and the US on Tuesday, November 17th, 2026.

Sign-up to be notified as soon as the book is available for purchase: [LINK].

For bulk order enquiries, please contact the publisher: [LINK].

What people are saying about Thinking on Your Feet:

Dr. Milana L. Hogan, Chief Talent Officer, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

“As someone who has spent 20 years inside an elite law firm working alongside some of the smartest people in the world, I have witnessed first-hand how critically important it is to be able to think on your feet. For a long time, I assumed that the ability to do this well is either innate or the result of superhuman intelligence. Instead, it turns out this is a skill that anyone can develop, and Chris shows us exactly how to do this in a crisp, straightforward, entertaining and often hilarious way. I saw Chris deliver some of this content live to a room packed with skeptical legal professionals and not only did he easily win everyone over but it was frankly one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen. I’m thrilled that he has now decided to make this content accessible to a wider audience. Personally, I consider it required reading for lawyers, legal professionals, or anyone who wants to communicate with greater agility and impact.”

Mindy J. Herczfeld, Esq., Chief Legal Talent Officer, Cozen O’Connor

“Thinking on Your Feet is an engaging and practical guide for anyone who wants to become a more confident and effective speaker. Whether you're giving a presentation, leading a meeting, or just trying to communicate more clearly in everyday conversations, you'll find insights that you can put to use right away. Chris has spent years helping lawyers and other professionals improve their public speaking skills and respond effectively in the moment, and that experience comes through on every page. His advice is clear, practical, and grounded in real-world situations. Just as importantly, Chris is a terrific storyteller. His conversational and entertaining writing style makes the book easy to read and keeps you engaged from start to finish. Thinking on Your Feet will help you respond with greater confidence and build stronger connections with your audience.”

Andrew B. Hales, Vice President, Professional Development and Training, Venable LLP

“Only Chris Graham could use crossword puzzles, HDTV, and growing trees indoors to make lawyers better communicators, and somehow make it all stick.  This is the genius of Thinking on Your Feet.  Chris does not offer vague encouragement or generic presentation tips.  He gives readers concrete ways to respond when they are put on the spot, when words do not come easily, and when even the most capable professionals feel exposed or clunky.  The book reflects what makes Chris such an exceptional speaker and teacher.  He understands both the substance of communication and the psychology of the person trying to communicate.  This is a smart, funny, and deeply useful book for anyone who wants to be clearer, calmer, and more connected in real time.”

Quinn Clancy, Director of Lawyer Talent Development, AmLaw 25 Firm

“As someone who works with professionals on all aspects of their development, including their communication skills, I was impressed by how practical this book is. Packed with useful toolboxes, tactics, and exercises, it gives readers a clear roadmap for responding thoughtfully and confidently when they're put on the spot. What’s even better, Chris makes improvement feel achievable, and the advice is immediately applicable, whether you're speaking in a meeting, responding to a difficult question, or navigating a networking conversation. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants actionable strategies, not just theory, for becoming a more confident and effective communicator.”

Windley Hofler Walden, Esq., Director of Professional Development & Associate Recruiting, Stevens & Lee

“Chris Graham’s new book, Thinking on Your Feet, delivers an entertaining approach to solving an age-old professional problem – how do we learn to engage in professional dialogue and answer questions on the fly without sounding like a bumbling fool.  While Chris methodically unpacks his “toolbox” of ideas, he draws on his experience as a “twice-retired” attorney to illustrate how, with a little assistance, anyone can learn to speak confidently and fluidly, even on short notice.”

Keya Dasgupta, Learning & Organizational Development Leader

“This book strikes a wonderful balance between theory and practice, helping readers understand both the why behind common communication challenges and the how for improving in the moment. Through thoughtful storytelling and artful analogy, Chris Graham encourages deep self-reflection while providing practical insights that will resonate with novice and experienced communicators alike. This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to communicate with greater curiosity, authenticity, and clarity.”

Rebecca Calman, Head of Recruitment and Associate Integration, Freshfields US LLP

“One of the many takeaways I gained from this book is the idea that a confident, natural communication style is not a gift reserved for a certain few; rather, it’s a learnable skill that any of us can develop through repetition and practice. With practical tools, relatable (and funny!) examples, and an encouraging approach, Chris Graham shares valuable insights from which even the most experienced speakers will benefit. For newer professionals or anyone who has ever struggled to find the right words in a presentation or at a meeting, this book is a game changer.”

Andrea Yang, Senior Manager, Career Development - US, Mayer Brown LLP

“A terrific guide on the art of conversation, presence, and connection.  Chris’s voice shines through this book – highly authentic, knowledgeable, relatable – walking us through his best practices, personal experiences, and thorough research.  Whether in person or in print, Chris is a gift to be experienced.”

Chris De Santis, Author of “Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work”

“What I loved most about the many gems contained in Chris’s book is how clear, concise, and accessible his advice is for taking what many of us consider a stressful experience and turning it into a learnable skill.  He does it with a wonderful combination of stories, science, and humor.  After reading this illuminating book, you will find that his tools for communicating become your roadmap for “thinking on your feet”.”

Jane Southren, Co-Founder and Coach, Southren Group

“Having spent the last decade helping lawyers advance in their careers, I regularly hear them anticipate with dread having to communicate about their work publicly and in real time. Whether networking, presenting, advising, or even in conversations, many struggle to express themselves authentically and fluently on their feet. 

“With this handbook, Chris has performed the alchemy of crafting an accessible, genuinely helpful and funny work that teaches us how to do just that. Consistently. Through apt analogies and charming stories of being exposed, put on the spot, and subjected to phenomena such as Angry Listening Face, Chris transports readers into relatable experiences, deconstructs them, and extracts practical tools for our own on-your-feet thinking toolkits. Pro-tip: the endnotes are worth your readers. 

“This book will be one of the well-worn, dog-eared resources I return to, and give to colleagues, for years to come. You should too!”

Jarrett Green, Well-Being & Peak Performance Consultant ~ NKB Consultancy

“We often assume that performing better under pressure requires becoming smarter, faster, or more naturally confident. Thinking on Your Feet offers a far more empowering proposition: we can dramatically improve our performance in high-pressure conversations by learning to work more skillfully with the minds and nervous systems we already have. Chris Graham brilliantly explores why intelligent, accomplished professionals can suddenly struggle to access and articulate what they know when put on the spot -- and, more importantly, provides practical tools for becoming more present, confident, and effective in those moments. What I especially appreciate is that Chris doesn’t teach us to eliminate the messiness and vulnerability of real-time human interaction; he teaches us to become more comfortable and capable within it. This is a wonderfully practical guide to communicating with greater confidence, resilience, authenticity, and humanity -- especially when the pressure is on. If you want to improve how you feel -- and how you perform -- in high-stakes conversations, this book is for you.”