When do pauses become awkward 🤷‍♀️?

 

Because so many presenters never use them.

And I get why – time feels different while presenting, and those silent moments may feel like they last a lifetime.

 

But that’s a shame, because pauses are amazing for so many reasons.

 

You can use them:

🔹 after you say something important, to give your audience a moment to really think about it

🔹 to naturally close one chapter of your story before moving to the next one

 🔹 when you crack a joke or, like in my case, attempt to be funny, to give people a moment to laugh

🔹 to give yourself a breather and refocus

🔹 as a substitute for “uhms” and other filler sounds

🔹 to build suspense: “And the winner is…”

 

If you want to identify where pauses would help in your talk, record yourself. That can help you find the perfect spot where a pause could elevate your message.