University:
University of Houston
Course:
FINA 4360 | International Financial Management
Academic year:

2022
Views:

216

Pages:

2
Author:

seksfeltsryup

PAUSES Your message is not simply conveyed by your words, but also is by your pauses. A pause isn’t a moment of nothing. Used strategically it is a tool to help you build an intellectual and emotional connection with your audience. When you pause, you give your audience time to process what you have just said. A pause allows listeners to stay engaged and enables them to follow what comes next. If you tend to speak rapidly, it is even more important to allow adequate time for pauses. 1. Sense Pause The sense pause is roughly where a comma would be in writing, but it occurs about twice as often. It is more frequent than the comma because in writing, if your audience cannot understand something, they can reread it. Since it isn’t possible in speaking, you must allow time for your audience to process. This is a way of grouping words in small parcels so the audience can keep up with what you are saying. The pause usually lasts from ½ to 1 second. 2. Transition Pause The transition pause is where a period would be in writing. It separates one thought from another. Many speakers are unaware that they are speaking in run-on sentences. Audiences are not able to process rapid speech as well as we might think they can, especially if the content is unusual, emotional, poetic, dramatic or new. The pause lasts between 1 to 2 seconds. 3. Dramatic Pause A dramatic pause is used to set up & spotlight what you will say next. For example, “Do you know what happened…?” Pause, pause, pause. This heightens tension in your narrative and gets the audience involved. You have to highlight a dramatic pause by following it with a statement that rewards your audience for following along with you. A dramatic pause can last anywhere from 3 to 7 seconds. 4. Reflective Pause A reflective pause gives your audience time to reflect. Complex or unusual statements need to be followed by time for reflection. This type of pause says to your audience, “I want you to think about that” or “I’ve left a space for you to think…” A reflective pause can last from 3 to 7 seconds. 5. Pause for Effect A pause for effect is shorter, usually just 1 to 2 seconds. It creates the feeling that something is going to happen and lets words hang in the air so the audience can play with them in their minds. 6. Sensory Pause Use this to support a description that appeals to the senses. For example, “A beautiful warm afternoon”, pause… “Imagine it”, pause… “Willows softly rustling in the breeze”, pause… “Birds chirping in the trees”, pause… “Sitting with a cold glass of lemonade in your hand”, pause… Create heightened feeling in your audience by pausing to allow their senses to take hold. 7. Pause for Emphasis The enemy of the speaker is sameness. An audience will get bored if they feel you are saying the same thing over and over again, even if you are not. Use pauses to delineate your key points. Keep your presentation dynamic so your audience does not get lulled to sleep. Use pauses to change gears.