How to use pauses effectively in public speaking
Author Mark Twain once said about the power of pauses, “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”
Public speaking is an art form that requires not only the mastery of words but also the skilful use of silence, in the form of pauses.
Former President Barack Obama was a skilled orator, who strategically used pauses, to add gravitas to his speeches.
Watch how Obama liberally and powerfully employed the use of pauses in his acceptance speech, upon winning the 2008 Presidential election.
Why are pauses important?
Pauses are a secret weapon in the world of public speaking.
Whether you're addressing a small group or a large audience, the strategic use of pauses can elevate your communication skills to new heights.
Pauses provide the following amazing benefits:
Clarity
Imagine a world in which you don’t not pause during a speech. The audience would feel like they are taking a drink from a fire hose! They'd be bombarded with a relentless stream of words.
But when you incorporate well-placed pauses between your thoughts or ideas, you can enhance clarity and comprehension - you give your audience the chance to digest, absorb and process the information. You prevent their brains from going into overwhelm mode and shutting down altogether.
Impact
Pauses have a magical ability to create emphasis and make certain words or phrases stand out, just like underlining your spoken words with a highlighter.
By strategically pausing before or after a key point, you draw attention to that point, giving it the weight it deserves.
Engagement
Pauses keep your audience captivated and hanging on your every word.
When you sprinkle them throughout your speech, you introduce a sense of anticipation. Just like a well-timed pause in a joke builds up the punchline, pauses in public speaking create suspense - they keep your audience hanging on your every word, eagerly waiting for what comes next.
The key is to be strategic.
Read through your speech, considering its flow and structure.
Here are the places to consider inserting pauses:
1. Before you start your presentation
After you have been introduced, walk confidently up to the podium.
But don’t immediately launch in to your presentation.
Instead, take it nice and slowly.
Scan the audience, breathe in deeply, take everything in, feel the good energy coming towards you, greet the audience with “Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening”, and wait for their response.
Pausing before you have uttered a single word will command your audience’s attention.
It will also create a relationship with them from the very outset.
Plus, there is something incredibly calming for you, the speaker, when you pause at the start of a presentation. Pausing helps to slow everything down, grounds you and eases you into your presentation.
2. Transitioning to and from a new topic
Pausing before you start a new topic and after you have covered a topic are the signposts to the audience that they should switch mental gears.
You’ve finished with one train of thought and are alerting the audience that you are now segueing to another train of thought.
These pauses aid comprehension and reflection.
Let’s say your topic is a presentation on actions we can take in our daily lives to reduce carbon emissions and help ameliorate climate change.
Example: “So, electrifying your home and weaning yourself off gas, is my first tip on what we can do to help halt climate change. [pause]
My second tip is to drive your car less [pause]”
3. Before you reveal something – build up, to create a sense of anticipation/suspense
Use a pause just before you “spill the beans” on something, reveal the punchline or a surprise ending.
Your audience will be on the edge of their seats, waiting for you to get them out of their agony!
Here is an interesting opener to your presentation, with the use of a pause to build suspense:
Example: “You’re not going to believe what happened to me on my way here today!!!” [pause]
Now, you’ve got them eating out of your hand - go ahead and tell them!!!
4. For emphasis - Before or After you have said something important
Pausing before or after an important statement or key idea can make it stand out and resonate with your audience.
This pause allows them time to digest the information and gives weight to your words.
Coupled with the power of repetition, a pause can emphasise any key statistics, facts or figures.
Back to our topic on the theme of climate change, here’s a few pauses to introduce in our quest to emphasise that time is of the essence:
Take a beat, let the silence hang in the air, and watch as your message sinks in.
Example: “Can you even imagine? – scientists say that we have 10 years to turn climate change around or we risk living in an unliveable world?” [pause]
10 years!!!! [pause]
“No wonder they call it a climate emergency!” [pause].
5. For emotional impact
Pauses have a remarkable ability to convey emotions in a way that words alone cannot.
A well-placed pause can communicate sadness, joy, anger, or any other emotion you want to express.
It allows your audience to feel the depth of your emotions and connects them to your message on a more profound level.
6. Before you answer a question
Someone in your audience has asked you a question, say in the Q and A section.
Before you rush to answer the question, pause for a second or two as you think about your answer and then speak.
7. To replace a filler word.
“Um, You know, er, ah, like”. Filler words - meaningless words we use when we haven’t thought about what we will say next.
When you feel a filler word coming on, substitute it with a brief pause while you gather your thoughts.
Plus, the beauty of these pauses is that you will create a wonderful feeling of suspense.
As you pause, your audience will sit in anticipation of what you will say next.
Which helps to creates additional audience engagement!
Your next steps:
Now mark up your speech to indicate all the places sprinkled throughout your speech where you could incorporate a strategic pause.
Practise delivering your speech with these intentional pauses, and notice the difference it makes in capturing your audience's attention.
Lastly, don't forget about the length of your pauses.
Just like you adjust the volume and speed of your speech, you can vary the duration of your pauses to create different effects.
Short pauses can add suspense and anticipation, while longer pauses can be used for emphasis or reflection.
A word of warning - if your pause is too long, say in the vicinity of 10 seconds, someone may panic and call 000.
Experiment with different lengths of pauses and see what works best for your style and message.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pausing is not just a moment of silence during a speech, but a strategic tool that can greatly enhance your public speaking abilities.
By harnessing the power of pauses, you can create emphasis, engage your audience, and convey your message with clarity and impact.
Remember to practise and experiment with different pause techniques, seeking feedback and continuously improving.
With dedication and mindfulness, you can master the art of pausing and take your public speaking skills to new heights.
Embrace the power of pauses and watch your speeches transform into captivating and memorable experiences for both you and your audience.
Remember Mark Twain’s wise words and use pauses smartly and strategically to make your message come alive!
© 2024 Susan Weser. All rights reserved.
Susan Weser is the Founder of Speaking2Win, a boutique public speaking and presentation skills consultancy, based in Melbourne, Australia. Susan’s mission is to demystify public speaking and presenting. She loves to fast-track her clients’ public speaking success, empowering them with the skills and confidence to excel in all their public speaking endeavours.