Tag: communication

The Power of Pauses: Speaking Like Obama

When Barack Obama speaks, people listen. One of the reasons? He knows when to stop talking.

In a world full of noise, silence is powerful — and underused by most learners.

🎯 What Makes a Pause So Effective?

  1. It creates suspense
    Audiences lean in when you pause before making a key point.
  2. It gives your message time to land
    When you say something important, pause to let it sink in.
  3. It shows confidence
    Rushing sounds nervous. A pause tells the audience, “I’m in control.”

🎙️ Watch This:

👉 Barack Obama’s 2004 DNC Speech (YouTube)
Notice how he pauses before and after key points.

Also check out:
👉 Julian Treasure – How to Speak So That People Want to Listen

🛠️ How to Practise Pausing

  • Highlight key points in your notes
  • Add a pause before and after each point
  • Use a timer — literally practice 1–2 second pauses
  • Record yourself and play it back: Does it feel confident or rushed?

A pause is not empty — it’s full of meaning. Use it well, and your words will carry weight.

How to Sound Natural When Presenting in English

We all want to sound natural when speaking English — especially during a presentation. But for many non-native speakers, this feels out of reach. You’re not alone if you worry about sounding robotic, too formal, or unsure of yourself.

The good news? You don’t need to be perfect to sound fluent. You just need to focus on intonation, tone, and phrasing — the building blocks of natural speech.

🎯 5 Tips for Sounding More Natural

  1. Use everyday phrases to start and end
    Instead of:

“This presentation is structured as follows…”
Try:
“So, what I’d like to talk about today is…”

2. Keep your sentences short and clear
Long academic-style sentences make you sound stiff. Try:

“Here’s the problem.”
“Let me show you what I mean.”
This mirrors how native speakers present.

3. Emphasise key words with intonation
Raise your pitch slightly on important words:

“This really matters.”
“It was a huge mistake.”
(Record yourself and listen — you’ll hear the difference.)

4. Use pauses instead of fillers
Silence feels scary at first, but it’s more natural than “uhhh” or “sooo…”
Try saying a short sentence, then pause and breathe.

5. Smile — your tone will follow
Smiling when you speak adds warmth and softens your voice. Even on Zoom, it makes a big difference.

    Remember: sounding natural isn’t about using big words — it’s about sounding human.

    What Makes a Presentation Memorable? And How You Can Apply Those Secrets Yourself

    We’ve all sat through presentations that felt like a slow drip of PowerPoint slides. And yet, once in a while, someone stands up and speaks — and something clicks. You’re hooked. You remember it. You repeat it to a friend later.

    So, what’s the difference?
    Why do some presentations stay with us, while others vanish the moment we leave the room?

    In my experience teaching presentation skills, the most memorable talks share five key ingredients — and you can learn to use all of them.

    🎯 1. A Clear Message — Not Just Information

    Memorable presentations don’t just dump data or list bullet points. They have a core message — something the audience can take away and repeat in one sentence.

    If you can’t summarise your message in a sentence, your audience won’t either.

    Watch:
    👉 Simon Sinek – Start with Why
    Sinek doesn’t talk about marketing theory — he delivers one big idea: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”

    🎭 2. Storytelling and Emotion

    Facts fade, but stories stick. A good presentation draws you in with a story you care about, something that makes you feel — whether it’s laughter, surprise, or empathy.

    Watch:
    👉 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – The Danger of a Single Story
    She doesn’t just make a point — she tells powerful, personal stories that bring it to life.

    😄 3. Personality and Authenticity

    People don’t remember perfect delivery — they remember realness. A memorable speaker is human, open, and often a little vulnerable.

    Watch:
    👉 Brené Brown – The Power of Vulnerability
    Brown’s humour and honesty are what make her talk unforgettable.

    ⏸️ 4. Pauses, Timing, and Presence

    How you say something can be more powerful than what you say. Pacing, pauses, and silence create drama and help your audience absorb key points.

    Watch:
    👉 Julian Treasure – How to Speak so That People Want to Listen
    Treasure uses rhythm, voice, and pause like a musical performance.

    A pause lets your message land. Rushing robs it of power.

    🖼️ 5. Simple, Visual Support

    The best presentations don’t rely on slides — but when they’re used, they’re visual, clean, and memorable.

    Watch:
    👉 Hans Rosling – The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen
    He transforms dry data into visual storytelling with energy and impact.

    💡 Takeaway: You Can Learn This

    Being memorable isn’t about talent or luck — it’s about intention and practice. You can:

    ✔ Structure your message
    ✔ Tell stories
    ✔ Be yourself
    ✔ Use silence
    ✔ Support your ideas with visuals

    Want to get better at presenting? Choose one of the TED Talks above and watch how these techniques come to life — then try using one of them in your next presentation.

    Let me know what you think — and if you’d like more tips, reflections, or real examples, follow along here on the blog.

    Cheers,
    Lee