I took this photo in a park that I often go to. Can you spot anything unusual? Take a few seconds to look carefully.
Did you spot the lighted lamps? Lighted lamps in broad daylight!
When we pause, we see things we would have otherwise missed.
Now, let’s look at the benefits of pausing when speaking.
Pausing gives you control
When we speak, we sometimes speak fast. This creates problems.
Our mouth may move faster than our mind. We may not have time to clearly formulate our thoughts. We may end up stuck at a ‘dead end’. We may forget to give a relevant example that could support our argument.
Instead of speaking at the speed of a Formula One racecar, do this: pause. It acts like a speed breaker on the road. It gives you time to think what you are going to say. It helps you organise your thoughts.
Pausing improves your language. When you speak quickly, you may not choose the right words to express what you want to say. Pause. Give your mind the space to search for that right word or exact phrase.
When we speak we may mispronounce a complicated or unfamiliar word. Pause. Give your mind an extra few seconds to prepare your voice to pronounce the word correctly.
Pausing lets you connect with the audience. When speaking, don’t be wrapped up in what you have to say. Don’t be glued to the slides.
Pause. Look around. Read the room. Do you see more interest for the second option? Are there some perplexed faces after you spoke about the action plan? You may wish to respond to what you have noticed.
Pausing helps your audience
Your audience needs time to absorb information. By pausing you give people an opportunity to reflect on what you have just said.
Pausing also allows your audience to prepare their minds for what is next.
You have something important to say. Make sure your audience follows what you are saying. Make sure they remember what you have just said.
Pause. Pause. Pause.
When do I pause?
Think in terms of thought groups. Thought groups are groups of words that carry a single unit of meaning. Here’s an example.
Say these two sentences without any pausing:
We need to start the social media campaign by November. The research shows that our target audience is mostly on Instagram.
Let’s identify the thought groups–
Thought group 1: We need to start the social media campaign
Thought group 2: by November.
Thought group 3: The research shows that
Thought group 4: our target audience is mostly on Instagram.
Say these two sentences again. But this time, pause after each thought group.
We need to start the social media campaign /pause/ by November. /pause/ The research shows that /pause/ our target audience is mostly on Instagram.
Can you feel the difference? Did you have more control while speaking?
Pausing is powerful.
Rules of thumb for pausing
Take very short pauses between word groups. The same goes for punctuation marks such as commas and semicolons.
After a full stop, pause for one to two seconds.
Pause before and after saying an important word or phrase. Two to three seconds should be sufficient.
If you have something dramatic to say, go for the dramatic pause. This could be a bit longer, say three to four seconds. When watching the Oscars ceremony, notice the dramatic pause. ‘The Oscar goes to….’
What we have covered are rules of thumb. Practice and find out how long your pauses should be.
Make sure to use pausing in your next presentation
Do you have an important presentation or speech coming up? Follow these steps to use pausing effectively.
Write down your presentation or speech.
Identify all thought groups.
Make a slash (/) after each thought group. You will be making very short pauses here.
Identify your main words or phrases. Before and after these key words or phrases, make two slashes: //. You will be making longer pauses here.
Next, record yourself reading the text. Be sure to pause at the right places.
Listen to your recording. How was it? Were your pauses too long? Too short? Perhaps, you could ask a friend to listen and give feedback.
Then try it again. After practicing a few times, you’ll start noticing something. Pausing starts feeling natural. You’ll be putting in less conscious effort.
Your future as a presenter
Imagine this: after a few presentations, you’ll be pausing naturally. You’re rate of speech will be just right–with the pauses acting as speed breakers. You will automatically identify thought groups. You will naturally pause before an important word or concept.
And your audience will be engaged. They will follow your line of thought as you move from one section of your presentation to the next. They will absorb your key points.
If during your presentation, a tricky question is asked, you respond by saying: “That’s an interesting point.” Then, you pause before saying anything else. By pausing, you give your mind time to consider the question and respond in a controlled, effective manner.
Does the scenario which I have painted sound appealing to you?
It’s absolutely possible.
And it starts with a pause.
Have you ever thought about how to use space when writing? Read this article on paragraphs and space.
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