Speaker Tip: Take A Pause for The Cause

"Logical pauses serve our brains, psychological pauses serve our feelings."--Stanislavski

Watch a really good stand-up comedian. You see pauses between jokes. Sometimes even a pause between syllables.

Sometimes they do it to allow the audience a chance to catch a breath or to create interest about what's coming next.

Why?

Because good comedians are masters of change.

Night after night they move a new group of people from one intellectual and psychological state of being to another.They knew the flow of human dynamics.

The Importance of The Pause

Psychological pauses build tension and heighten curiosity.

Logical pauses between words and sentences give an audience the time needed to piece together the key elements of the joke or series of rapid one-liners. When it all comes together, you've got a room filled with laughter.

Make "The Pause" an intentional part of your presentation, meeting, or change initiative.

Psychological: When you pause to create a "curious" state of mind, the tension makes people want to listen. That gives you the opening to help them learn.

Logical: Change initiatives mean new information and new experiences. Periodic, intentional pauses allow everyone time to make sense of what's happening and create new context.

Where can you insert intentional pauses in order to become a really good "Stand-Up" leader and speaker?

photo source: Wikipedia

Comments

[Lynn M]

This is very true, Steve. I think you'll agree though that some people are just naturally gifted with this ability.

[David Zinger]

Steve:

I will keep my paws on pause. Good point about creating white space for humor, emotions, integration, etc.

David

[Steve Roesler]

Lynn,

I do think some folks watch "what works" and intuitively pick up on the importance of this--then incorporate it. When you demonstrate it to others they can learn it. Some have to write a note to themselves to "pause"; but heck, whatever works.

[Steve Roesler]

David,

Appreciate you taking time to scratch out a comment. . .

[essay writing]

I agree with much of what you say! Pauses are really important. There is a lyrics of one song called "Let's make pauses in our words" - it is said that all people should do them.