‘Dramatic pause’? Here’s the Real Reason Pauses Matter in Public Speaking

Mastering Pauses for Effective Public Speaking: Insights on Election Speeches and Communication Techniques

Barack Obama was famous for pausing frequently. But not to trick you into thinking he was confident

With recent high-level politics in the spotlight, there’s been renewed interest in what makes a good political speech.

One of the key elements? The power of pacing and pauses.

Effective pausing is an essential technique in public speaking, and it’s something I cover with almost everyone I work with in communication coaching.

Most people tend to speak too quickly, or they don’t pause often enough, which can undermine the impact of their message. But it’s crucial to understand why pausing can make such a big difference.

Why Pausing Matters in Public Speaking

I often see advice online about pausing in speech delivery, but not all of it is helpful.

Take, for instance, this video about how to deliver an election-winning speech, which talks about how to use pauses strategically, to give an air of confidence (watch the bit of the video at 20:15).

Confidence is great, but that’s a side-effect of pausing. Not the reason to pause.

Pausing is about creating space for your audience, giving them the opportunity to absorb your message fully.

I came across this video in a blogpost from The Nudge podcast, titled The Power of Silence in Negotiation, which discusses how pauses can make a speaker "sound more confident," with Barack Obama as the prime example.

The post also references the football legend Lionel Messi, who learned to use strategic pauses on the pitch to sharpen his playing abilities—a useful skill, but a very different context from communication and speech delivery.

Lionel Messi: not a famous public speaker

The Role of Pausing in Authentic Communication

Here’s the thing: speakers often see pausing as a tactical tool to influence a listener’s perception—whether that’s to “sound more confident” or to make an important point seem weightier.

In negotiation, strategic pausing may have its place. But public speaking isn’t about power dynamics.

Effective communication should feel collaborative. Your audience should feel involved and valued, rather than manipulated or pressured.

Pausing isn’t about projecting confidence or making yourself seem wise.

It’s about helping your listener process what you’re saying. A well-placed pause gives your audience a chance to absorb information, reflect on your message, and prepare for what comes next.

In this way, pauses are less about your image as the speaker and more about serving your audience's needs.

Research on the Power of Pausing

The Nudge highlights research by communication expert Jonah Berger, who conducted an experiment where 50% of listeners heard a speech delivered without pauses, while the other 50% listened to the same speech with intentional pauses.

Interestingly, the latter group rated the speech more positively on all fronts, even though the speech content, tone, and style were identical.

While Berger attributes this effect to the speaker seeming more confident, I think there’s more to it.

Pausing allowed listeners to connect more deeply with the content.

When listeners have time to digest information, it feels less overwhelming and more trustworthy.

In public speaking, doing the “work” for the listener—by pausing and making the message easy to follow—builds trust and makes your message feel accessible.

How Pausing Builds Value in Communication

Making listeners feel valued through clear, considerate communication strengthens their connection with you.

When people feel that you’re putting their understanding first, they’re more likely to value what you’re saying.

They might not always agree with your message, but by giving them time to process it, you increase their receptivity and respect for your perspective.

So, remember, pauses shouldn’t be used to appear confident or authoritative; pausing isn't something we do 'for effect', to be theatrical or manipulative (I wrote a bit about this, on this blog recently). 

Instead, pauses are a gift to your audience, allowing them to engage with your message without extra cognitive effort.

Think of it this way: pausing reduces the “work” your listeners have to do, making your ideas easier to grasp and appreciate.

If you're interested in more insights on public speaking, pacing, and using pauses effectively, subscribe to my newsletter, I Hate Public Speaking, where I provide practical tips and debunk some of the clickbait articles on communication that you might come across online.