The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. -- Mark Twain
Mark Twain was totally right (and I'm tired of him stealing all the best quotes.) I learned this trick when speaking to youth, but I use it all the time with adults as well. When the crowd gets distracted or chatty (sometimes this will happen when a cell phone goes off and please believe, a cell phone will ring when you are speaking...it's the 7th Law of the Speaking Universe) or even a little unruly, there are a couple of options:
The trick that does work and I have about a thousand examples under my belt with this one is: silence. Audiences in public settings are very uncomfortable with silence and can only handle about 15 seconds before they want to bolt. If you keep talking through distraction, people will feel at home in the distraction, but when you stop talking they will eventually move their attention back to the stage. It is a magical trick and it works nearly every time. A well-placed pause also serves as a flashing neon arrow that directs the listener to your current point. It's interesting how often speakers raise their voices in order to emphasize a point when not talking at all is a much better way and a lot less work.
Pause. It's a power move.
So, here's a fun question: what's the most distracting situation you have ever seen a speaker, teacher, presenter have to deal with?
- Shush them. Because nothing is more fun than hearing "Shssssssh!" repeatedly over a microphone.
- Try to out-volume them. Raise your voice, talk a little louder and if you have to - shout 'em down!
- Speed up and/or try to say something funny. Don't do this one! It usually comes out awkward and if it does actually end up being funny, they'll miss it anyway because they're already talking.
- Cry. Oh, there have been times when I've wanted to bust out this move - usually at the "School's Out for Summer" party when everyone has eaten their weight in junk food and are not loving our attempts to redeem the evening with a little "come to Jesus" word at the end.
The trick that does work and I have about a thousand examples under my belt with this one is: silence. Audiences in public settings are very uncomfortable with silence and can only handle about 15 seconds before they want to bolt. If you keep talking through distraction, people will feel at home in the distraction, but when you stop talking they will eventually move their attention back to the stage. It is a magical trick and it works nearly every time. A well-placed pause also serves as a flashing neon arrow that directs the listener to your current point. It's interesting how often speakers raise their voices in order to emphasize a point when not talking at all is a much better way and a lot less work.
Pause. It's a power move.
So, here's a fun question: what's the most distracting situation you have ever seen a speaker, teacher, presenter have to deal with?
LOVE this! Thanks for this tip Bo! In sales, there's a rule "first one who speaks looses!" That means when you get to a place when you want your customer to make "a move" you put something out there, and then you just shut up. First one who speaks looses. I've used it occasionally in speaking but now you've just convinced me it's my new best friend! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bo!
Sleepers are always fun.
ReplyDeleteI have had someone vomit. I took it personally and then decided they were just sick. When someone vomits when you're preaching, everyone will remember the event but probably not the preaching.
Oh dear, Caleb, just when I think I've experienced everything! Now, I'm nervous for this weekend at Westside in a whole new way.
ReplyDeleteNita - first to speak loses? Love it! Stealing it.
i love the looks on students faces when they realize you have not been talking for a few moments... priceless!!!
ReplyDeletei love this "trick" and use it lots. I've seen someone throw up before, but caleb beat me to that one... so i'll go with the other one i was thinking of; someone getting up to go to the bathroom(or something) and passing out.