How to Use Pauses When You Speak

Here’s something to try. Say this sentence aloud:

“Before we leave this meeting, we need to decide who is responsible for calling the customer.”

Now say it again. This time, stop after “meeting.” Give yourself a moment, then finish the sentence. Stop again when you’re done.

Can you hear the difference?

A pause gives people a chance to take in what you’ve said. It also gives you a chance to breathe and choose your next words. People can stay interested while you pause.

Let one thought finish

When you know your subject well, you may be thinking two or three sentences ahead. The audience is still listening to the sentence you’re saying now.

If you move straight from one idea into the next, people have to keep up with you while making sense of the information. Give them time to think, especially after a recommendation, an important number, or an unfamiliar idea.

For example:

“The current process requires the same information to be entered three times.”

Pause.

“My recommendation is to collect it once and share it with the two teams that need it.”

Pause again.

The pause separates the problem from your recommendation, making both easier to follow.

Put pauses where they help

Start with the places where you’re asking people to do some thinking.

• Pause before an important point so people notice what you’re about to say.
• After an important point, let them take it in.
• Between sections, give them a clear break before you move on.
• After a real question, leave enough time for someone to answer.
• Before a difficult answer, take a moment to think.

You don’t need to stop after every few words. Read your message aloud and listen for where a thought ends. That’s a good place to begin practicing.

Give people time to answer

You ask a question. Nobody answers immediately. You feel the silence, so you explain the question again. Then you add an example. Then you answer it yourself.

Meanwhile, someone may have been getting ready to speak.

Ask one clear question and wait. Look at the group. Give people a chance to think about what you’re asking.

If the question still isn’t getting a response, make it easier to answer. Instead of “What do you think?” try “Which part would be harder for your team: the new deadline or the approval step?”

Then give them time again.

Notice what you do with the silence

Some speakers fill pauses with “um,” “so,” or “you know.” Others keep adding words after they’ve already made the point.

An occasional filler word is a normal part of conversation. During practice, listen for the places where fillers are getting in the way. You may find that you’re using them while deciding what to say next.

Try leaving that space quiet. Finish the thought, take a comfortable breath, and continue when you’re ready.

Keep your attention on the people listening. Keep looking at them while you pause.

Check the recording

Silence can feel much longer when you’re the person speaking. A pause that seems endless to you may sound perfectly comfortable to someone watching.

Record a short section of your presentation. Watch it before deciding that you paused too long.

Could you follow the ideas? Did you pause long enough after an important sentence? Did you rush past something that needed explanation?

Use the recording to decide where to slow down or pause. You might need a longer pause in one place and a quicker pace through familiar background in another.

Practice with one paragraph

Choose a paragraph from a presentation you’re preparing. Mark a slash where you want to pause.

Read it aloud. At each mark, finish the phrase, stop, and take a comfortable breath if you need one. Then continue.

Record it twice: once as you normally speak and once with the pauses. Compare the two. Keep the version that makes the message easiest to follow.

Start small. One well-placed pause after your main recommendation may do more for the presentation than trying to change everything about your delivery at once.

When you reach the sentence you want people to remember, finish it. Let them hear it. Give them a moment before you move on.

A professional presentation review can show you where slowing down or adding a pause would make your presentation easier to follow.

Related article: How to Stop Rambling in Presentations and Get to the Point.