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The importance of pausing when speaking: Silence is not the absence of communication

Have you ever wondered if you pause enough when you speak? Most people, especially in corporate or leadership environments, often forget the relevance of this simple act. In my corporate life, I used to get frustrated when managers were talking non-stop and as fast as possible, whether in meetings or presentations, without checking if their audience was following them. I used to talk fast myself. However, when I became a professional speaker and coach, I learned the value of breaks. Discover that silence is not simply an empty space, but a powerful tool to improve the quality of communication.

Pauses are not only essential in coaching conversations, but they are also effective in public speeches, corporate presentations or when leading a team meeting. Silence, when used strategically, transforms the message, giving more weight and clarity. Mastering this skill can make the difference between a mediocre presentation and one that truly connects with your audience.

Why are pauses when speaking so important?

Speaker and communication expert Vinh Giang points out two key reasons why pauses are essential in our conversations:

Pauses give time to process information: When we pause, we allow our audience to digest what we have said. In a world where information is transmitted at high speed, giving the brain space to digest the message is crucial.

Silence is more effective than conversational “fillers.”: Fillers like “mmm,” “uh,” “eh,” or “you know” are distractions. Instead of filling the space with these words, silence offers a reflective pause that can make our message cleaner and more powerful.

Silence in communication: a linguistic act

As Rafael Echeverria mentions in his essential “Ontologia del lenguaje”, Silence is not the absence of communication, but an essential component of it. As a linguistic act, silence conveys as much as words, if not more. In coaching, it is used to facilitate reflection, but it also has a place in broader public speaking. By taking a moment to breathe and make space for silence, we allow our words to resonate with greater impact.

Bernard Werber’s famous quote perfectly sums up the complexity of communication:

“Among what I think,

what i want to say,

what i think i say,

what i say,

what you want to hear,

what you think you hear,

what you hear,

what you want to understand,

what you think you understand,

what you understand…

That’s ten chances that we’ll have trouble communicating.

How pauses improve clarity

Each pause helps mitigate these “noises” in communication, providing clarity. By leaving space between ideas, we give our interlocutor the opportunity to correctly interpret our message, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings.

Let’s take possession of the silence

Silence is not something we should fear in a conversation or presentation. On the contrary, it is an invaluable tool that, when used with intention, can completely change the way our message is received. As Michael Aguilar said, it’s about “breathing strategically,” and as Vinh Giang and Bernard Werber suggest, silence allows communication to flow with greater precision and clarity. So next time you speak, don’t forget to pause, your audience will thank you!