One of the core speaking principles is the power of silence. Put into practice, this delivery tool can have a profound impact on an audience.
This concept is not always easy to grasp. Itโs counter-intuitive to think that a speaker is most effective when not speaking. But itโs true.ย
The impact of silence is not always obvious โin the moment.โย Sometimes you never realize the effect it has had. You just know that an insightful comment or humorous line evoked a strong response.
At the time, you probably didnโt think โThat speaker just paused long enough for me to get the full impact of her pointโ or โThank goodness he shut up long enough to let me laugh!โ You simply reacted, and experienced the impact.
What Can the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team Teach You About Speaking?
Thisย idea hit home for me this week while Iย watched a video of arguably the greatest moment in American sports history – the 1980 semi-final Olympic hockey match between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.
If you remember that event, you probably just felt an emotional response at the mere mention of it. The impact of the U.S.A. victory is difficult to convey 36 years later, but it was profound.
What struck me about that contestย was the masterful work done by lead announcer Al Michaelsย as he called the closing moments, and the aftermath of the stunning victory.ย Many people forget that this game was played on a tape-delay basis in the United States. (If youโre younger than 30, there was a time when mostย sporting events were NOT carried live – ESPN and 24-hour access to these competitionsย didnโt exist. No, really! Iโm serious!)ย
After Mr. Michaelsโ famous words during the closing seconds (โDO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!!ย YES!!!!) he did something astoundingโฆ.
He SHUT UP!
He was wise enough to understand the historic significance of the moment, the reaction of the teams, and most importantly, the crowd response.
Watch this clip of those closing moments (Itโs OK, do it now. Iโll sit here and eat my pretzels until you returnโฆ..)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfD134ED54ย
Doesnโt it still give you chills and thrills, nearly four decades later?
Do you have a deeper appreciation of Al Michaels use of โthe pause?โย From the 1:02 to 1:59 point in this video, he allowed you, sitting at home, to โfeelโ the moment. He intuitively knew that saying anything would detract from it.
How do I know this? Because, at the 1:59 mark, he said, โNo words necessary, just pictures.โ He then waits another 12 seconds to allow you to take in just a little more.ย
This experience was made more emotionally stirring because of what a wise broadcaster knew what not to do. Itโs a skill that todays broadcasters, salespeople and, yes, speakers, would do well to learn.
As you practice and prepare your next talk, reflect on the impact of Al Michaelsโ use of the greatest delivery tool you have at your disposal – silence. Allow your audience to feel your most powerful points, and most emotional moments of your presentation by closing your mouth.
Do this, and when other people ask your audience if you have a powerful message, they will enthusiastically sayโฆ.
YES!!!
And thatโs no miracle, just great speaking.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
The book โGo Ahead and Laugh: A Serious Guide to Speaking With Humorโ
What is the right type of humor to include in your speeches?
How do you include funny material without taking away from your message?
What if youโre not a naturally funny person, how do you make people laugh in a speech?
Fortunately, a book has been written that answers these questions, and many others. In โGo Ahead and Laugh, A Serious Guide to Speaking with Humor,โ 11 professional speakers share some of their best humorous material. These speeches are dissected by presentation expert Rich Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins breaks down each speech and helps you understand how to uncover the humor that exists in your stories. After reading this one-of-a-kind book, you will knowโฆ
– The difference between humor and jokes [there is a HUGE difference]
– How to use your stories to make audiences laugh
– Techniques to deliver your funniest material with maximum effect
– Using humorous self-deprecation to increase your likability
โฆand much more!
Once youโve learned how to create more laughter within your speeches, youโll find that, not only will your speeches improve, you will become a much more in-demand presenter. As you get more comfortable incorporating more humor into your speechesโฆ your impact and connection with audiences will increase significantly.
To order,ย click here.
Michaelโs mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - itโs a learnable skill. Once he discovered this โsecretโ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the worldโs best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
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