Avoiding awkward pauses is a critical skill in communication. Awkward pauses can make you appear unprepared, disengaged, or even nervous. They can also disrupt the flow of conversation and make it difficult to build rapport with your audience.
There are a number of things you can do to avoid awkward pauses. One is to be well-prepared. Know your material inside and out so that you can speak confidently and fluently. Another is to practice your delivery. This will help you to become more comfortable with the material and to identify any areas where you might need to pause.