• In May 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister after a silent pause changed the course of a meeting
• Churchill knew that sometimes the best persuasion is to pause and let the silence do the work
• Three types of pauses to use when speaking:
  • 1. Long Pause (4-5 seconds): Focuses or refocuses the audience's attention
  • 2. Medium Pause (2-3 seconds): Gives words room to work, allowing the audience to enjoy a story or process information
  • 3. Short Pause (1-1.5 seconds): Acts as a "period" to signal the end of a thought
• Churchill was a master at using all three types of pauses in his speeches
• Remember to use pauses strategically to increase your persuasion and give yourself the winning edge

Sources:

• Silence Wins the Day
• Churchill, Winston S.. The Gathering Storm (Winston S. Churchill The Second World War) (p. 597-8). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
• Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat Speech - https://youtu.be/80_HXIHa724?t=250

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