0424 – The Pregnant Pause
Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice-Over Voice · Peter Stewart
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Show Notes
2022.02.28 – 0424 – The Pregnant Pause
Pregnant pause
This is a pause that is full of meaning (‘pregnant’ means ‘full’) – it builds suspension and signifies significance.
“And Prime Mionsiter, did you ever take drugs?” [Pause] “Yes. Yes I did.”
“And now we come to who will inherit the vast percentage of grandad’s estate…” [Pause]
or perhaps could happen when no-one knows quite what to say:
“You know Nigel? He’s been arrested for murder…” [Pause]
Pregnant pauses can be natural as in those examples, or manufactured. For example, a conversation between a car salesman and a potential customer can often have pregnant pauses in them as they try to make the other uncomfortable, give the impression they are mulling over an offer or suggestion… and as brinkmanship to cause an uncomfortable situation and force the other person to speak and so give away part of their gameplan.
The danger is not only talking, but ill-considered talking, starting to sound desperate, saying words just to fill the silence.
A clever salesperson or manager, parent or presenter knows the pregnant pause can be a powerful tool. When it appears, consider letting it linger. Stretch it and feel it. Sense how it affects the conversation (perhaps give the other person time to think, and process, what you said) and shifts balance of ‘power’ in the conversation.
The “silence may be deafening”, they may feel threatened or flustered by it, see it as a psychological trick, and pressured into making a decision.
On the other hand, the listener, possible customer, staff member may feel more respected, unthreatened, more in control.
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