Pitch Perfect - Toastmasters for Women

When you think of conveying a message, you probably first think of WHAT you will say, and HOW you will say it.

Another powerful way of increasing the IMPACT of your communication, presentation, or speech is...


the pause


Here are three powerful ways to use the PAUSE when you speak:

1) at the start: once you're "on stage" be it on an actual stage or a virtual stage, take a moment to arrive. Connect with your audience, connect with yourself - your breath, your feet, your message.

This pause will create calm which translates to CONFIDENCE and in turn will increase your IMPACT.

2) to create anticipation: when you’re about to deliver a powerful message, pause for a second to create tension and eagerness for your audience to hear what's to come.

This pause will create CURIOSITY which in turn will increase your audience's receptivity and, ultimately, your IMPACT

3) to let nuggets or rhetorical questions "land:" after sharing an essential piece of information or posing a question you actually want them to answer in their head, pause to give space for them to receive.

This pause will create CONNECTION which in turn will increase your IMPACT.

How have you found PAUSING powerful while speaking or when being on the receiving end of a communication?