Enhance Your Storytelling with Strategic Pauses
One of the best presentation tips that everyone overlooks is the power of the pause. Even I overlooked it, or at least wasn’t consciously aware of it until someone brought it to my attention. After an event, a person came up to me and said, “I know what makes you so good…” They looked at me, like, “you can’t fool me!” and then said, “…. you insert PAUSES.” And it’s true—sometimes not saying a word is the best way to be heard.
Here are three ways you can use a gap of silence to your advantage when telling your story:
1. Start with a Pause
Use a pause right before you start the story to get your audience's attention at the very beginning. After you've been introduced or when it's your turn to speak in a meeting and you plan to tell a story, pause. Not only will it help with the awkwardness that many people struggle with—like “How do I transition into telling a story? What do I say?”—but it also signals that we’re “shifting gears here.” The pause will draw listeners in because we're not used to pauses, and it will indicate that something different is about to happen. So, pause before you start the story to naturally set the story apart from the rest of the meeting or presentation.
2. Shift the Mood
Use a pause to shift the mood within a story. If the story is rolling along smoothly and suddenly something changes for the worse, pause. Let the shift sink in. If the hard part of the story is done and it’s time to lift the mood again, say the final sad phrase, pause, and then shift to the more uplifting part of the story. A few strategic pauses go a long way in helping the audience progress through the emotions you need them to experience.
3. Regain Your Thoughts
Finally, pause if you don’t know what to say next. We’ve all been there where we get a little lost and forget what we wanted to say next. In these situations, many people just keep talking. They try to talk their way out of it, fumble around, and talk in circles. They try to say their way out of the problem, when in fact, it just makes the problem worse. If ever you get stuck or lose your train of thought, pause instead, take a breath, and let your brain catch up to your words. Yes, in these moments a pause may feel like a full intermission, but I guarantee it only takes a few seconds of silence to reset and get yourself back on track. Meanwhile, your listeners won't be the wiser to it. In fact, they’ll probably think it’s part of your speaking strategy.
