Do you know how to use pauses effectively in public speaking? Here's how to use the power of the pause in every one of your speeches and presentations.
Silence is golden—even when you're speaking.
But pauses are dramatic.
That's only the most obvious reason you need to use "the power of the pause" in every speech or presentation you give. Actors understand that silence in a scene can be as powerful as a clap of thunder. Why should you let them have all the fun?
Read Tip #26: "Silence Is Golden—How To Use Pauses Effectively," in my book, How to Give a Speech. It's one of 101 easy-to-learn skills for successful speaking. On Amazon.
Really, consider what a powerful tool silence is in public speaking. Using pauses and silence effectively is an easy way to raise the interest and impact of your presentations. It sets up that something important is about to be said . . . or if used after you've said that thing, allowing it to sink in.
In addition, speeches can be lengthy, and even short talks can be complex. So you need to provide audiences with an occasional oasis, i.e., a place of refreshment and recuperation. Without these stopping places, your narrative may begin to feel like a long trek across a featureless desert.
And you needn’t take my word for it. Neuroscience gives us some interesting evidence of this effect. More about that in a minute. First, let's take a closer look at how you can employ this humble yet powerful public speaking tool.
Want this article in a handy cheat sheet? Download it here as a Free Tips and Tricks Guide: "The Power of Silence: How to Use Pauses Effectively in Public Speaking."
Four Ways to Use the Power of the Pause
Here are four additional reasons why using the power of the pause will help your talks.
- To separate the main segments. Listeners can only hold so much information in their minds before experiencing overload. (More about that in a moment too.) You therefore need a significant pause in these three places: (1) between your intro and body; (2) between each main point; and (3) between the body and conclusion. Each time, you're telling the audience: “Here comes something new, folks!” That allows everyone to press the "Reset" button in their brain. What about starting out strong to begin with? Here are 12 foolproof ways to start a speech that will hook your audience.
- To let something sink in. The self-consciousness and anxiety that comes with public speaking releases adrenaline, which tends to make you speak faster. So you may fly through your talk, allowing important points to whizz by too fast for listeners to grasp them. (If you have fear of public speaking, visit my Fearless Speaking page to discover how to banish your stage fright.) Here's a place where a pause is truly your friend, allowing listeners a moment for the important thing you just said to sink in.
- As transitions. Creating natural and helpful transitions between the main segments of your talks is always a challenge. Remember: while you know how the elements of your presentation fit together, the audience doesn't, and it's your job to make that clear. In addition to knowing risky words and phrases to avoid in speeches and presentations, you need to come up with transitions that help keep audiences in the loop. Pauses are vital in this context. They help listeners understand that whatever you just said is about to be linked to what's coming next. Your individual points become easier to follow and retain.
- To help listeners stay tuned. Speaking of retaining chunks of information, here’s where brain research reinforces the importance of the pause. When considering whether silence has any neurological value, researchers found that speakers who don’t pause negatively affect listeners’ comprehension![1] Our short-term memories can only hold a few pieces of information, and for only around 30 seconds. Pausing is a vitally important way to keep your audience with you—engaged, informed, and enjoying the experience.
Next week: How you can use an actor's approach to tap into the power of silence.
[1] L.J. MacGregor, M. Corley, D.I. Donaldson, “Listening to the Sound of Silence: Disfluent Silent Pauses in Speech Have Consequences for Listeners,” Neuropsychologia, Dec. 2010, 48(14):3982-92, epub Oct. 13, 2010. Cited in Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman, Words Can Change Your Brain (New York: Plume, 2012), 69.
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Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching and corporate group training worldwide. He was named for nine consecutive years as One of the World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals, and also named as One of America's Top 5 Speech Coaches. He is the author of the Amazon Best-Sellers How to Give a Speech and Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence. His book, Fearless Speaking, was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time." He is also the author of the Dr. William Scarlet Mysteries. Contact Gary here.
