Awe & Silence
This is a sappy story about my vacation and my understanding of the significance of silence. With a home movie too!
I have been preaching, ok I’ll tone that down to lecturing, on the benefits of silence while presenting.
It is all right to stop and allow a good few seconds of silence:
When you feel an um coming
When impact is needed
When you need to take a restorative deep breath
I’ve just returned from Southern Utah, driving home through Monument National Park, and the Sierra Nevadas.
Yes, it is a little shaky. I’m new to recording and loving my new Flip camera.
My driving partner in crime will attest to my awe at the sheer magnificence of red rocks, towering precipices, and gushing or meandering waterways.
They made me quiet. They made me introspective.
I realized that it is all right to be present, in the moment. And I deeply understood what I communicate to my clients. It is ok to stand in front of your audience and allow them to appreciate you and for you to appreciate them.
In a few seconds of silence.
Tags: in the moment, Presentation Skills, Presentations, public speaking, Silence
Very nice insight Janice. Definitely agree with you with the power of silence in communication in general.
When used at the right times it can go along way in helping you communicate what you really want.
I’ve been meeting with a lot of people recently and I find if I just offer some silence into our conversations I find out so much more then I had ever hoped for.
It also forces people to reflect on what I or they have just said.