Do you know how to use silence in your presentations? If you want to speak with greater drama, one way is to use this effective actor's technique!

Do you know how to tap into the power of silence? It's one way you can easily use an element from the actor's toolbox to make your presentations more dramatic.

So, forget the marching band or trained dog act you were going to use to open your speech (I know you were secretly planning these). Instead, use one of your ultimate weapons: silence.

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.

Going Deep: Why Silence Works in Public Speaking

In last week's article in this space, I shared four ways you can use "the power of the pause" in public speaking. Apart from those practical reasons I gave for pausing in speeches, there’s something more fundamental going on. It has to do with the relationship of sound and silence. 

As an actor and speech coach who uses theater-based techniques for public speaking training, I've always been struck by the sheer power of a dramatic pause. I'm talking about those moments of recognition in a play, movie, or speech that can surprise, shock, or feel like a detonation. In fact, silence as part of a spoken performance can inspire awe.

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Nature itself teaches us the summoning power of silence. We talk about “The calm before the storm.” And when the everyday sounds of, say, a forest go silent, the hairs on the back of our neck make us feel that something out of the ordinary is about to happen. 

Public speakers can use the same tool, for the same effect. Why let that powerful point you're about to make be swallowed by throwing it into the general stream? Or equally bad, filling the moment by not knowing how to stop, saying um, uh, like, and so on? Pause! Set what you're saying apart with an instant of anticipation and drama. Frame it and focus it with silence.

Let important moments like these in your speeches gather power by knowing how to command any stage in pubic speaking. What about online meetings? Boost your presentation skills and acquire virtual presence with my book, Speaking Virtually.  

Two More Ways Pauses Help You In a Speech

You're always most effective with your audience when you have a conversation with them. Adrenaline, as we already know, tends to speed up your speech. By pausing, you stay within the conversational dynamic. And that’s when you sound at your best. Think of it as facilitating a dialogue with your audience. 

Finally, listeners need to recognize you as the principal actor in this drama. They must have complete confidence in your ability to lead an audience. So they're finely attuned to your level of confidence, including how you pace your talk. You mustn't appear rushed or anxious, but comfortable and always in control. Here's more on the 7 leadership qualities of great speakers.

Be that speaker: the one who delivers a well-paced speech with frequent refreshing pauses. Your audience will linger not only on your content, but on your credibility, confidence, and the powerful way you lead. How dramatic!

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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.  

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