I remember the first time I heard one of my favorite presenters speak. Standing on stage, he was delivering an inspiring and engaging presentation and had the entire audience on the edge of their seats. As I think about his presentations, one thing has always stood out to me: his ability to pause at just the right time and for the exact right amount of time. This simple tool was almost as if he were pulling his audience closer to him and getting ready to tell them a secret. It was a beautiful example of the power of the pause.
The pause is a powerful tool when it comes to closing the deal. When used correctly, a pause can draw your audience in and leave them wanting more. On the flip side, when used incorrectly, a pause can feel awkward and unnatural, leaving your audience wondering what has you so nervous.
At Ethos3, we believe that every presenter must learn to master the pause, which is why we have put together 3 examples of when and how to use the pause to close your next deal.
Pause for emphasis.
Pausing after a key statement or fact is a great way to place emphasis on that information. It communicates to your audience that they should pay attention and remember what you just shared. Pausing for too long can become distracting and uncomfortable, so be sure to pause for just a short period. Pausing for emphasis should only be used 3-4 times throughout your presentation, so select the most important information to use the power of the pause.
Pause for confidence.
Sometimes mid-presentation, you can find your confidence dwindling and filler words creeping in. In these moments, taking a quick second to pause and regain your confidence can change the trajectory of your presentation. By slowing down and pausing, you give yourself an opportunity to collect your thoughts and keep going. This pause should be short and sweet, keeping your audience in the dark about the discomfort you are feeling. Staying in this pause for too long can quickly turn the confidence boost into a confidence drain.
Pause for digestion.
While presenting, you may find that your audience begins to tune out part of the way through. This doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t interested in what you have to say; rather, this could be an indicator that they are suffering from information overload. Information overload was first defined by Betram Gross when he said, “Information overload occurs when the amount of input to a system exceeds its processing capacity.” This phenomenon is very real for an audience if you deliver a fire-hose rate of information. Pausing gives your audience a chance to catch up and take in the information you are sharing. In many ways, it’s like resetting the memory of a computer by allowing for more information to come in.
By implementing these three strategies, you will see that a simple pause can take you to the next level in presenting. Learning to master the pause will elevate your presentation and give you a leg up on your competition.
Looking to learn more presentation strategies? Check out the Presentation Mentor online course today.
