Why to pause when public speaking

Learn why to pause when public speaking. There is a wealth of tips here, but this is my number one practical piece of advice to help reduce your stress levels.

Also to not be nervous for a presenation, you need to learn to breathe!

This highly effective vocal technique, The Powerful Pause, is in this fourth video from my 'Peek Inside Persuasive Presentations' course series where I explain why to pause.

“Pausing is a brief moment of silence. It intensifies your message. It can create moments of drama and suspense.

For the audience, it makes them sit up and listen!

It takes twice as long for your listeners to process your words than for you to say them, so pausing gives your listeners processing time. This is especially important if you are giving complicated technical information, many facts and figures or even a list of critical points.

It helps them to retain your key messages.

It provides the audience with time to clarify and gives meaning to your words. It gives the audience a chance to breathe.  

And lastly it’s seriously engaging! This short silence makes your listeners lean forward and listen more attentively as they anticipate what is coming next.

And for you as the speaker, what does it do for you?...

It provides an opportunity to collect your thoughts and time to prepare yourself for your next opener..Many of us are guilty of our mouths running far ahead of our fully conscious brains.

Pausing gives you time for your brain to catch up with your mouth so you can focus on keeping your language simple and concise. And finally, it may seem surprising but it can actually calm your nerves.

One of the main benefits is that it is an effective tool to help remove your filler words ‘Right?’, OK ‘You know’ ‘like’ and your non words, ‘Ums’ and ‘ers’.

Pausing is your public speaking friend!”

This is key if you want to know what makes a good speaker and pausing really help reduce your presentation anxiety. I challenge you to embrace this effective presentation skill immediately!

The next and final video in this series will show another technique from one of my key communication pillars: Voice & Body Language.

Also I recommend you sign up to this great AI tool (with 5 trials to experiment with) to help you not to be nervous for a presentation. You can practice without judgment and the AI ​​analytics measures your fillers (number and %) and non words (your ers and ums).

Your goal is 1 to 2% to give more clarity to your messages. Perfection is not necessary. Some of my clients start at 15%. So enjoy the challenge and watch yourself improve.

I use Yoodli (built in the Allen AI institute, Seattle, part of the Microsoft startups and featured in the Wall Street Journal) with all my clients. This powerful AI tool gives them confidence in public speaking and they and I love it.

If you want to discuss your organisation’s (corporate, NGOs, Associations and Universities) Public speaking or Presentation skills needs, I offer free 30-minute consultations through my site. I’d love to meet you.