Power Of The Pause

The Power of the Pause in Public Speaking

When I first started speaking in front of groups, I filled every second of silence with something. A “like,” a “you know,” a quick breathless rush into the next sentence. I thought momentum was everything—that keeping the flow meant keeping attention. But in trying to sound smooth, I diluted my message. My words blurred together. Filler words crept in, and what I was saying didn’t always land.

Then one day, that changed.

I was speaking to a group of about 50 attendees, sharing a story about empathy—a deeply personal and emotional moment. I reached the end of the story, delivered the final line, and... paused.

Five seconds.

To me, it felt like thirty. Every instinct told me to jump in, to keep going. But I trusted the moment. I leaned into the silence.

And in that silence, something powerful happened.

No one looked away.
No phones came out.
No side chatter.
No fidgeting.
Just 50 people, locked in. Present. Engaged. Emotional. A few had tears in their eyes.

That moment wasn’t created by the words I spoke—it was created by the space I left after them.

Why Pausing Works

In public speaking, we tend to fear silence. We see it as dead air, as a sign we’ve lost our place or don’t know what we’re doing. But in reality, a pause is presence. It's control. It gives your audience a moment to reflect, to absorb, to feel. When you pause:

  • You add weight to what you just said.

  • You create anticipation for what’s coming next.

  • You show confidence in your message.

When to Use the Pause

Incorporate the pause intentionally. Especially:

  • After a powerful story – Let the emotional impact hit.

  • After a bold or insightful question – Give the audience time to think.

  • After your closing line – End with silence, not a scramble for applause.

Trust the Silence

When it feels weird—fall into it.
When you want to rush—hold back.
When your voice is done—let the pause speak.

The pause is not empty. It’s full of presence. And when you own that space, your audience will follow you deeper.

So next time you’re on stage, remember: sometimes, the most powerful thing you can say… is nothing.

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