When you speak or present, whether it be in front of small groups or big ones, you’ve got to keep your audience engaged to get your message across.
You’ve got be clear, credible and concise.
But crutch words like “um,” “well,” “like,” and “ah” can be terribly distracting to an audience. These words tend to pop up more when we’re nervous or not sure what comes next.
Preparation is essential for reducing nerves and indecision, but another tactic is to embrace the pause.
Pauses aren’t easy to do. We feel compelled to talk in order to hold the “conversational floor” so we don’t lose our place to speak next. It also feels uncomfortable or impolite to stay silent.
But it’s absolutely the right thing to do if you want to sound calm and collected. Here’s how pauses help:
A pause gives you time to gather your thoughts. Research shows you can take up to five seconds to think about your next point without audiences holding it against you.
A pause calms your nerves. It leaves time for a deep breath, centering, and resetting.
A pause creates suspense. You can heighten anticipation and interest with a well-placed pause. You can also let important points sink in with your audience when you pause.
Be aware of your crutch words. Be silent when tempted to use them. And practice, practice, practice to gain confidence.
Don’t fill your presentations with nervous noise. Embrace the pause.
Have a great week.
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