Comments on: Communication Techniques: The Pause

By: Does A Pause Have To Be Awkward? | Small Group Help

Does A Pause Have To Be Awkward? | Small Group Help — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:09:33 +0000

[...] time to think, and the God’s spirit a chance to work in the minds and hearts of people. Craig Groeschel at Life church recently wrote on this topic related to preaching but I think it also applies in a [...]

By: Pastor Umuteme

Pastor Umuteme — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:50:59 +0000

I surely use the pause. But this is an involuntary action. The Holy Spirit takes the lead and I just follow. I seldom continue after somebody nod his/her head

By: Vivek Hattangadi

Vivek Hattangadi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:56:13 +0000

Yes - the pause is a very powerful communication technique. This powerful technique is different and unlike the ‘uh’s’, ‘uhms’ which are used when we are processing our thoughts or we are unable to get the correct word. Using this technique skillfully will raise your presentations to new levels. Vivek Hattangadi, Ahmedabad, India

By: BJ Harris

BJ Harris — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:18:28 +0000

Wow. If I pause, I’ll go over my time constraints even more often than I already do. In an effort to pause more, it’s as if I’ve created two new goals for myself: 1. Pausing. 2. Learn to use less words…to allow time for pausing.

By: Preaching Techniques: The Pause « Resources for Preachers and Teachers

Preaching Techniques: The Pause « Resources for Preachers and Teachers — Sun, 18 May 2008 01:58:30 +0000

[...] I suggest when you realize a bullet just hit the target… Pause… Be quiet… Be still… Wait… Wait some more… And give the Holy Spirit time to seal the thought in the minds of the listeners. Read more… [...]

By: Mac

Mac — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:01:06 +0000

Great conversation! I agree wholeheartedly that well-placed pauses can drive home a point better than just getting louder or rambling on. Not every sentence we speak has the same value, and sometimes a statement needs a lot of elbow room, it’s so big. I’ve also found it useful to sometimes use repetition, especially of a key point or phrase or scripture, hitting it over and over again almost like a mantra or like a drone string.

And yeah, pauses always seem longer to the speaker than to the listener. Although at the first church I preached regularly at there was one guy who didn’t like pauses. He was the one who edited our audio recordings, and I was a little surprised one time when listening back over the mp3 of a sermon because I sounded like I wasn’t bothering to breathe. It turns out that he had ruthlessly edited out every “blank” he saw in the audio file, to make it more snappy. It made me go and double check with others who had heard me preach live to see if I was really overdoing the pauses, but every one of them assured me that the editing job was just a little weird.

By: RC of strangeculture

RC of strangeculture — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:41:35 +0000

good thoughts indeed. i’ve seen this be very effective a number of times. it’s crazy how when you’re actually speaking you feel so compelled to fill the space.

By: Sean Pritzkau

Sean Pritzkau — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:08:11 +0000

Great advice. I think im going to like this week! My first opportunity to speak for our junior high group a few months ago I dont even think I had any periods. I was pretty nervous. It went pretty well, but maybe I should of inserted a pause.

By: Hope

Hope — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:07:04 +0000

I appreciate the pause; I take notes during the sermon. Sometimes our pastor will say something soooo profound that I want to get down every single word as it was spoken for future reflection.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:11:46 +0000

Yeah - did this the first time by accident - lost my place - took a couple of awkward moments till I found my place and the next thing you know after the service I have people telling me that God spoke during the pause. Who knew? I do now and do it with purpose.

By: Paul Kuzma

Paul Kuzma — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:08:35 +0000

This is such a great point, Craig! Some of us get in the rut of thinking that WPM (words per minute) applies to our speaking as well as it does our typing. I think it’s almost the opposite. The fewer words spoken per minute, the greater chance that understanding, digestion, and impact is deepened.

Paul Kuzma
http://www.pastorpaul.blogspot.com
http://www.pastorforlife.org

By: Mike Jones

Mike Jones — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:03:41 +0000

You did this last week and it was hugely effective from my point of view.

I’m sitting in the Edmond Broadcast suite and every time you did it, even though I knew it was coming, I’d get that gut feeling like oh no, where did the audio go?

When I was in high school I was in debate and I often found what I didn’t say was more effective than anything I could ever say.

By: John Ireland

John Ireland — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:10:17 +0000

I like this, Craig.

I have learned to be comfortable in the silence in a different setting - leading a LifeGroup. There was a time when I would move-on too readily if someone in the group did not offer some thoughts in response to a question.

No more! I don’t linger too long, but I am fine for there to be a pause. It often proves fruitful.

By: Catalyst | The Leadership Filter for What's Next in the Church

Catalyst | The Leadership Filter for What's Next in the Church — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:57:48 +0000

[...] Read the whole post [...]

By: jon

jon — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:46:29 +0000

one thing i appreciate about our pastor is that he utilizes the pause before his prayers…i find that it allows me to get more focused on the fact that we are about to have a conversation with the HOLY and LIVING God…i find myself much more in tune and it doesn’t feel like one of those, insert prayer here into the service plan because we have to, type of things.

By: Jason Curlee

Jason Curlee — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:23:44 +0000

This is a great one…I have always tried to utilize this one. It give people time to process a very strong point. You can especially do this after asking a question. Sometimes we need to pause and let God speak to the hearts on those points we know He has given us.

I often see though that today’s speakers are running a 100 yard sprint rather than pacing themselves for the mile.

By: Brad Ruggles

Brad Ruggles — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:49:08 +0000

Craig,

That was one of the most powerful tools I learned as a communicator. The more comfortable I got in my stage presence the longer I was able to pause. Sometimes, in the silence of a room you can almost hear the wheels turning in heads and the Spirit speaking to hearts.

Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com

By: Kris Sorensen

Kris Sorensen — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:26:03 +0000

Craig, I’ve got to say you are the master of this technique. I always find myself jumping back in way too soon to avoid any sense of awkward silence. Thanks for the reminder.

By: Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:23:06 +0000

Bill, Funny! I always tell new preachers… If you forget what to say next, repeat what you just said and get back to your notes.

Cliff, Agreed!

Brandon, Well said… “more than just words are used.” Thanks.

Mark, Yes… “what” and “how” are both huge in our presentation of God’s word!

By: Mark LeHew

Mark LeHew — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:21:51 +0000

It’s good to give that pause, and then repeat your statement. We as pastors sometimes forget that it’s not about how much we say, it’s more about what we say and how we say it!