Control Your Pace Under Pressure
Practical ways to control your pace under pressure, so nerves never turn your talk into a sprint.
Pressure speeds speech. Slow down on purpose.
10 tips that really help
These ideas come from Building a StoryBrand (Donald Miller), Pitch Anything (Oren Klaff), Made to Stick (Chip Heath and Dan Heath), and everyday practice. The first six help the most. Pick one and try it today.
Pressure speeds you up
Nerves often make speakers rush and lose clarity just when it matters most.
Notice your first signal.
Breathe before you begin
One slow breath resets your pace and calms your body.
Take it at the door.
Plan your pauses in advance
Marking pause points in your notes ensures you slow down at key moments.
Add symbols to your outline.
Aim for conversation speed
Speak at the rate you would use with a friend, which feels natural to listeners.
Compare with a recording.
Slow down on important points
Emphasis comes from space and slowness, not from speed.
Mark three key lines.
Use shorter sentences
Short sentences are easier to control when nerves rise.
Edit your script.
Know your timing
Use a discreet clock or watch so you can adjust without panic.
Practise with a visible timer.
Prepare what to cut
If time shrinks, knowing which parts to drop keeps you calm.
Mark optional sections.
Keep water nearby
A sip gives a natural pause and relaxes your throat.
Set a glass on the table.
Reset out loud if you rush
Saying let me slow down lowers your pace and shows composure.
Practise that phrase.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many sales conversations.
“Let me slow down.”
“(Breathe in.)”
“Here is the key point.”
“(Wait.)”
“Am I going too fast?”
“Thank you.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
Mark pauses in your notes
Breathe before starting
Use short sentences
Set a pace goal
Ask a friend to signal
Record yourself
Practise under mild pressure
Further reading
- Building a StoryBrand (Donald Miller)
- Pitch Anything (Oren Klaff)
- Made to Stick (Chip Heath and Dan Heath)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
More lessons in “Tell Stories That Sell”
Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.
← Previous: Use Your Hands and EyesNext: Recover From a Slip →
- Why Stories Beat Statistics
- The Simple Story Shape: Problem, Struggle, Win
- Make the Customer the Hero
- Find Stories in Your Everyday Work
- Keep It Short, Keep It Real
- Add One Vivid Detail
- End Every Story With a Point
- Collect Stories While They Are Fresh
- The Before, During and After Story
- Use Real Numbers Honestly
- Tell a Story Like Your Customer Would
- Match the Story to the Buyer
- Case Studies People Actually Read
- Ask for Testimonials Without Awkwardness
- Your Ten-Second Introduction
- The One-Sentence Pitch
- Cut the Jargon
- Lead With the Problem You Solve
- Make the Benefit Obvious
- Use Simple Words and Short Sentences
- The Message Test: Can They Repeat It?
- Open With a Hook
- The Three-Point Presentation
- Slides That Support, Not Distract
- Demo the Result, Not the Features
- Use Pauses Like a Pro
- Handle Questions Mid-Presentation
- Close Your Presentation Strongly
- Hold the Room Without Shouting
- Use Your Hands and Eyes
- Control Your Pace Under Pressure
- Recover From a Slip
- Pitch to One Person or Twenty
- Pitch Over Video With Energy
- A One-Page Proposal That Wins
- Open With Their Problem, Not Your Company
- Show Options: Good, Better, Best
- Make Pricing Easy to Understand
- Add a Clear Next Step
- Proofread Like a Professional
