Pace and pauses

Nervous speakers speak fast. Fast speech, in a room, with technical content, loses people. Slow down, and pause.

Why pauses work

• A pause after a key point gives the audience time to absorb it.
• A pause before a key point creates attention: people look up.
• Pauses replace filler words like "um", "so", "basically".

A pause that feels long to you (two or three seconds) feels natural to listeners.

Pacing a talk

• Rehearse with a timer, out loud, standing up, at least two or three times.
• Mark checkpoints: where you should be at the halfway point.
• Plan what to skip if you run late (a backup slide, a second example).

Voice and body

• Speak to the back row. If they can hear you, everyone can.
• Vary your tone: a flat voice makes any content sound boring.
• Look at people, not at the screen or your notes. Pick a few friendly faces in different parts of the room.
• Face the audience when you speak; glance at the slide, then turn back.

Notes, not a script

Reading a script word for word sounds flat and breaks eye contact. Use brief notes, or let your slide headlines be your notes. The exception: your first and last few sentences, which you can memorise.

RememberSlow down, pause before and after key points, rehearse with a timer, and speak to the back row.