Giving the Perfect Presentation - and the importance of Pauses
- Tom Lockhart
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
You probably need to give presentations as part of your job — either face to face or online.
Giving a presentation is something all of us can get better at with a little practice.
If you'd like some useful expressions to help you deliver a strong presentation, click on
the video link below. By the way, you can also find more videos at these links
But what I want to talk about today is something a little different. It’s about the power of the pause.
Sir Ralph Richardson (1902–1983 and pictured below) was a famous British actor — possibly one of the greatest of all time — known for his deep voice, clear speaking style, and strong stage presence. But one of his most powerful tools was the pause. He once said:
“The most precious things in speech are the pauses.”
And he was right.
Whether you’re giving a business presentation, leading a meeting, or speaking in front of a group, your delivery is just as important as your content. One of the best ways to sound confident and professional is to pause at the right time.
Why?
Because communication is not only about the words you use — it’s also about how you say them. A pause gives your speech rhythm and power. It helps your audience follow your ideas more easily.
And science supports this too. Here’s what research tells us:
Pauses help people understand. When we listen to new information, our brains need a few seconds to process it. If you speak too quickly without pausing, people may miss your main point.
Pauses make your ideas stronger. A short pause after an important point makes that point stand out. It helps your message stay in your listener’s mind.
Pauses show confidence. Many people speak too fast when they’re nervous. But when you pause, you sound more relaxed and in control. A study in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior showed that speakers who pause are seen as more confident and trustworthy (Scherer, 1979).
Pauses reduce filler words. Saying “um,” “uh,” or “you know” is common when people are thinking. But if you replace those sounds with a short silence, your speech sounds more professional.
Pausing helps you relax. Public speaking can make people feel nervous or stressed. Taking a pause gives you a moment to breathe and calm down.
The pause is your secret weapon.
It helps your audience. It helps your message. And it helps you.
So the next time you give a presentation, don’t just practise your slides or your script. Practise your pauses.
Use them after important ideas. Use them when you want people to think. Use them to sound calm, clear, and professional.
Before you do anything else today, take 1 minute to try this short PAUSE practice:
“Pauses help your message. [PAUSE]
**They give your audience time to listen. [PAUSE]
They make you sound confident. [PAUSE]
Use them well.” [PAUSE and smile]
Practise this a few times until it feels natural.
Your presentation skills just got better. One pause at a time.