Weekly Insight #31: The Power of Pauses – Punctuation in Speech
🎙 “Silence isn’t empty — it’s where your message lands.”
In Weekly Insight #25, we explored hearing ourselves as others do—learning to listen objectively and refine our vocal delivery.
This week, we go deeper:
What happens between the words is just as powerful as the words themselves.
🎤 Meet Jordan — A Leader Who Found His Voice
When Jordan prepped his TEDx Talk, his first instinct was to fill every second.
Words ran together. Filler crept in. His message blurred.
💡 The breakthrough?
Jordan learned to pause—to let his words land.
He stopped fearing silence… and started using it.
The Result:
✅ The audience leaned in.
✅ Laughed at the right moments.
✅ Carried his message home.
💬 Why Pauses Matter
Think of pauses as vocal punctuation—the commas, periods, and exclamation points your voice needs.
✅ Create Emphasis — “This… changes… everything.”
✅ Build Anticipation — “The solution is…” [pause]
✅ Signal Confidence — You’re not rushing. You own the moment.
And just like breath, pauses reveal intention—they show you’re present, not performing.
🔄 3 Ways to Practice Pausing
1️⃣ Map the Pause
Print your script or outline. Mark natural pause points with slashes “/” or ellipses “…”.
2️⃣ Record & Listen Back
As we explored in Insight #25—record yourself.
Ask: Do these pauses add meaning? Do they feel natural?
3️⃣ Use the Reset
If you stumble—pause, breathe, smile. Reset.
The pause protects your message and your composure.
🎯 Mini Exercise — Try This
Write a 1-minute talk about something you care about.
✅ Add “/” where you want pauses.
✅ Record and listen.
✅ Refine until your pauses carry your message.
🗝 Final Thought:
This connects back to our six-month journey—every exercise, from breath to intention, shapes how you’re heard.
Want to sound more confident?
✅ Say less.
✅ Pause more.
Because sometimes… what you don’t say… speaks loudest.
Every pause carries weight. Just like punctuation, it shapes meaning, adds color, and helps your message land.
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