How frequently do you experience pain when high profile athletes, entertainers, and politicians are interviewed and frequently pepper their statements with …
Um
Ah
So
You know, or
You know what I mean?
Okay?
Like
Right?
As the feature article for February reveals, many of us use five or more filler words a minute. That’s 18 or more filler words in a three-minute interview.
Oh my!
“The question for you as a leader and communicator is “How frequently do you use filler words?”
What will make you stand out in an avalanche of verbal distractions will be your capacity to relate your thoughts to the people you interact with on a regular basis and have them understand what you mean with less energy on their part.
How well we communicate will determine your likelihood of success in getting things done with the cooperation of your key influencers. How we get there is with consistency through clear, concise and compelling language and a supportive voice (tone) and body language.
Here are just a few ways to introduce and sustain clarity, brevity and purpose into your verbalized language.
- Insert a mental comma (pause) to help you slow down and grant your listeners a chance to stay with you as you share your thought process;
- Tape yourself and listen to how you speak and how frequently you use filler or crutch words; and
- Publicize your desire to use far fewer crutch words as a stretch goal by asking a colleague or a buddy to count the number of filler words you are using on Day 1. Tally up the count a week (and a month) later. Ask others what they are noticing as you purposefully shift away from filling up others with nonsense.
Added reading:
- Click to access – Harvard Business Review – “How to Stop Saying ‘Um’, ‘Ah’, and ‘You Know”
- Public Enemy #1 – The Holbrow Group October, 2018 INSIGHTS newsletter
- https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
Colin
Please share with others.