Levare Wellbeing Development

Pause. Breathe. Reflect.

This has been my mantra for public speaking and still advice I carry forward. It's very easy to get carried away with your speech.

Pauses can help with overall speed as well as pacing. You can use pauses strategically, inserting them right after important points to let them sink in or right before to allow you to gather your thoughts and get the audience’s attention for what you’re about to say.

It's pretty to make a point, pause, provides support for that point and recap said point, pauses again, check compliance and understanding of audience if needed and the make a related point / evolve the discussion area into a new avenue.

By following this method the audience has a chance to let that gain a build up and interest to let your points settle and resonate.

Include 3-8 second pauses at key moments – just before key statements or just after a story – this really brings the audience into the speech. This will not work for short format say on Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube shorts etc.

I think you'll all agree one of the biggest distractions as an audience member is a speaker who constantly says "uh" or "um" or "ah".

These fillers are typically used as a way to say something, anything, while you're thinking of your next point. But some of the best speakers know that "the pause" is not something to avoid. A well-timed break in speaking can even be used to help strengthen a point, letting it sit with the audience before moving on to the next topic.

Become more comfortable with this pause and you will become a better public speaker.

I know there is a confidence required to establish multiple points to pause but trust me it'll come in time. It comes with practice and being a subject matter expert in your respective niche. Practice in social settings when storytelling; down the pub with friends, the dinner table with friends or in a team meeting.

I understand some will feel they need to wait until they are "Publicly Speaking" on stage or something along those lines. Use your surroundings to your advantage. See it as free training.

It'll be great to hear feedback on once you implement this. Do people listen to you more? How's the confidence?

Whether online or in the flesh I hope to see you all soon!