How can you use silence and pauses to overcome nervousness in public speaking?

Appropriate pausing helps to impart clarity to what we're saying (or have said). It can also be used in such a way that the main points will make a lasting impression. When you are making a transition from one main point to another, a pause can give your audience an opportunity to reflect, to adjust, to recognize the change in direction, and to grasp more clearly the next thought presented. It's just as important to pause when changing from one idea to another as it is for you to slow down when turning the corner from one street into another.

When I have done public communication in the past, using moments of silence and prolonged pauses after making a point can be extremely helpful! Like in music when you have a rest, it accents what happens before and after. Giving a moment to process what has been said, and perhaps a chance to reiterate for effect. You probably should always pause after stating the core idea when communicating so that the audience has a tangible way of telling that THIS is what it is all about. When you are nervous, you tend to speed up your communication. Losing track of points and skipping around. Most people would feel more comfortable and track with you more coherently if you paused and recouped instead. Give it a shot!

By taking a moment to pause and breathe, the speaker can calm their nerves, gather their thoughts, and deliver their speech with greater clarity and confidence.

The silence or pause are mindfulness techniques that shift your brain state from “fight and flight” to “higher executive function and awareness”. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to make the shift.

When a speaker demonstrates their ability to remain composed and handle unexpected situations with grace, it can create a sense of admiration and respect from the audience. Furthermore, by taking a moment to pause and gather their thoughts, the speaker can often come up with more creative solutions or ideas than if they had rushed through the speech without allowing for any breaks or interruptions. In this way, pausing in response to challenges can actually improve the quality of the speech and the overall impression the speaker leaves on their audience.

Silence and pauses can be particularly effective in a world that is increasingly filled with noise and distraction. By deliberately creating moments of quiet in your speech, you can cut through the noise and capture your audience's attention in a way that few other techniques can.

Great leaders throughout history have used long pauses to emphasize points they made. Winston Churchill and his 'Never, Never, Never Give up speech is one example. Another is Mary Morrissey who was combating the thought that we don't have enough time. Her full 3 minute pause in speech exemplified just how long that is - and how we can accomplish many things in just 5 minutes if we choose!

I like to think of silence and pauses as a form of nonverbal communication. Just as body language and facial expressions convey meaning, so too can silence and pauses be powerful tools for connecting with an audience.

Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices or simply focusing on your breath, can help you become more aware of the present moment and comfortable with silence. As you practice mindfulness, pay attention to moments of silence or stillness, and notice how they feel in your body and mind. Use visual aids: using visual aids such as slides or videos to create natural pauses in your speech may be helpful. For example, you might pause after showing a particularly impactful slide, or after a video has finished playing.

It is interesting how, especially in conflict management, silence is one of the most powerful communication tools we have. When we are silent and holding space without expectation, someone always fills that space with unprompted thoughts. From those more thoughts and ideas through. Silence can be a creative space, a safe space, an excepting space, and an exploration space.

As a speaker, a pause also gives you time to 'read the room' and take energetic note of your audience's comfort and engagement levels.

One additional tip I would add is to practice mindfulness meditation, which can help you become more aware of your own thoughts and emotions, and ultimately improve your ability to stay present and focused during a speech or presentation.