COMMUNICATION SKILLS UNIT 1

“The Power of the Pause”

Do you like music?

What kind of music

do you like?

Can you

imagine a song

with no

pauses??

VisArtur Schnabel

(1882 – 1951)

was an Austrian

classical pianist, who

also composed and

taught. He was Among

the 20th century's most

respected and most

important pianists. “The notes I handle no better

than many pianists. But the

pauses between the notes

ah, that is where the art

resides.”

Listen to his musical piece……

What do you think?

The power in your speech is in how and

when you pause!

Like a musician we need to train our voice

so that its pleasurable to our listeners!

Why Important?

• Without pauses logical concise

words will be expressed as

babble

• Pausing imparts clarity to

speech

• Adds force to the principle

ideas we are trying to relay

Let’s consider two types of Pausing!

Dramatic Pause! Punctuation Pause!

Lets take a look at an example….

Dramatic Pauses Punctuation Pauses

• Add emphasis

• Create expectancy

• Draw listeners deeper into dialogue

• Allows a shift in thoughts and ideas

• Gives audience opportunity to reflect on what we said

• Helps to keep our speech at a steady pace

Your turn….

Stanford Report, June 14, 2005

'You've got to find what

you love,' Steve JobsThis is the text of the Commencement address by

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar

Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

Find the Pause!!!

(/) Short Pause

(//) Long/Dramatic Pause