Barack Obama is arguably one of the best speakers in the world today.
In my opinion he is unquestionably, the master of the pause.
We saw this again this week in his address to the United Nations General Assembly
Barack Obama outlined steps world leaders should take against violent extremists such as the Islamic State militants.
The opening:
“Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen: we come together at a crossroads between war and peace; between disorder and integration; between fear and hope.”
In this short, powerful opening he paused 4 times for 2 or 3 seconds each time.
“Around the globe, there are signposts of progress. The shadow of World War that existed at the founding of this institution has been lifted; the prospect of war between major powers reduced. The ranks of member states has more than tripled, and more people live under governments they elected”
Once again, he speaks less than 50 words and pauses 4 times.
Why?
This was the best and most significant opportunity that Barack Obama had to rally the world against ISIS. He could address other world issues such as Ebola, Russia’s actions in Ukraine and climate change.
“Today, I ask the world to join in this effort. Those who have joined ISIL should leave the battlefield while they can.”
He didn’t just pause emphatically like this for the first opening minute of his speech.
His entire address was mindfully paced with perfectly positioned pauses to highlight his point.
He made sure that not only was every single word he had to say heard, but understood and digested.
Therein lays the power of the pause
When you have something profound to say the pause is your best friend .
Barack Obama knows better than almost anyone
When Barack Obama speaks, you don’t just hear him; you ‘see’ what he is saying.
“The cancer of violent extremism that has ravaged so many parts of the Muslim world”
“Hundreds of millions of human beings have been freed from the prison of poverty”
“Today, whether you live in downtown New York or in my grandmother’s village more than two hundred miles from Nairobi, you can hold in your hand more information than the world’s greatest libraries”
“Iraq has come perilously close to plunging back into the abyss. The conflict has created a fertile recruiting ground for terrorists who inevitably export this violence.”
The Close
“The people of the world look to us, here, to be as decent, as dignified, and as courageous as they are in their daily lives. And at this crossroads, I can promise you that the United States of America will not be distracted or deterred from what must be done. We are heirs to a proud legacy of freedom, and we are prepared to do what is necessary to secure that legacy for generations to come. Join us in this common mission, for today’s children and tomorrow’s.”
We live in an age of speed and information
Ideas and data are flying at us from all corners of the globe at the speed of light.
Many people are waiting to speak rather than truly listening
Others are desperate to be heard or anxious they will be judged by their words.
In the world of presenting that why many professionals speak so quickly.
The key to being a great and memorable speaker is to be authentic.
We should not all clamber desperately to be like Barack Obama.
That said ,we can learn from him and slow down.
Watch the full speech here:
If you need help developing your public speaking and presenting skills:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
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