USE OF SILENCE TO BE A POWERFUL SPEAKER

"Most of us know how to say nothing; few of us know when to let our silence speak louder." ~ C. Krosky

For the over 20 year experience as a trainer and speaker, if you ask me what one thing makes presentation and speaking more powerful, I will tell you, effective use of pause. Silence— more often and more dramatically! In fact, only few presentations have enough pauses. This topic seems simple, but it's such a crucial aid to your speaking success that I thought it was worth revisiting.

Imagine This…

After you have been introduced, you move to the center of stage, plant your feet then smile while looking at the audience for 5-8 seconds and say nothing. The pause might feel like eons for you. But it will have a magical effect and prove to be one of the strongest ways to get your audience's attention and to create rapport. They will stop fidgeting, focus on you and be waiting for the first word out of your mouth. While you might feel uncomfortable during those 5-8 seconds, the audience will be marveling at your composure. You are demonstrating real control of silence before you start your presentation.