Conquer Awkward Silence With Laughter
High pressure situations and normal social interactions are equally susceptible to awkward pauses. When you don’t know what else to do, make them laugh.
As Business Blog Inc. notes, making someone laugh is one of the best ways to relieve embarrassment and resume a conversation (or presentation!). If something goes wrong, you can even turn it into frivolity for the sake of your audience, as Rob Brydon did during the BAFTA awards:
There was silence. Waiting for the next award, Rob Brydon, Welsh comedy presenter and himself a BAFTA nominee, stood on stage in silence for awkward minutes until he finally said, “This is the nervous smile of a man waiting for an automatic signal. again. “The silence was broken and everyone laughed. The performances could be resumed. Humor at its best.
Of course, there are always times when silence isn’t awkward, but it’s actually quite appropriate (please don’t try this at a funeral). But if your goal is to keep your audience or conversation partner entertained, awkward moments are just an opportunity to make someone laugh.