Public Speaking Tips -
The Pause Paul M Johnstone
As a new speaker just starting out, or a self taught public speaker or presenter, you don’t like to pause because you hate the silence that can descend on your audience. You are concerned by the ‘dead’ feeling silence, speakers often associate with silence.
You have probably heard a speaker give their presentation and rush through it, with hardly a pause for breath. The result is normally you don’t remember anything that was said.
The truth is your audience only start listening when you stop talking!
What?
All of us process what has just been said during the pause. It allows our brains to make sense of the words and file them in our memory. Think back to any conversation you have had. There is information then there are pauses. This is so everyone in the conversation has time to digest what has been said, filter it and react to it.
There is a phrase that many public speakers use, ‘Pause till it hurts’. This refers to the uneasy feeling in your stomach you experience when you think things are not as they should be. And nothing is more so than your audience of 50 or more people looking at you and you are saying nothing.
The truth is we all pause to emphasise a point. Be brave and try it next time you are speaking or presenting. It would be nice if you let me know how you got on.
If you’d like to improve your public speaking and presentation skills – get in touch!
Please feel free to comment if this tip has helped you, share your own ideas or ask a public speaking question Paul will try to help!
About the Author
Paul M Johnstone is a Professional Communicator, Speaker, Executive Coach and PowerPoint Guru! He works with companies, organisations and individuals, helping them improve their communication skills. Paul helps people want to speak and present more effectively, to improve their personal and professional success. He can be reached at +44 (0)7711 324362or through his website at http://www.pmjohnstone.co.uk/©Paul M Johnstone
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