If you’re like many people, you probably find yourself saying “um” and “ah” quite often when you’re speaking. These are what are known as filler words, and they can be quite annoying – both to you and to the people you’re talking to.
Want to stop using filler words? If you catch yourself saying “um” or “like” during a speech or presentation, don’t fret—there are ways to eliminate them. Here are a few tips that can help.
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Tips to Reduce Filler Words
1. Make Short Pauses
To avoid filler words, take short pauses between thoughts. Train yourself to pause instead of saying “um” or “ah.” With practice, it’ll become second nature.
2. Speak Slowly
Speaking slowly gives your brain time to process your thoughts, reducing filler words. Rushing causes these words to creep in. This benefits both you and your listener, making your speech clearer.
3. Record Yourself and Listen Back
Record yourself and listen back to identify filler words. This helps you become aware of how often you use them. You can then work on eliminating these unnecessary words to improve your speech.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
Practice leads to improvement. The more you rehearse your speech or presentation, the better you’ll get at eliminating filler words. Make sure to rehearse extensively before your big day.
5. Practice Making Eye Contact
The next time you’re in a meeting, make full eye contact and turn your body to face each person. You’ll notice it’s less awkward to say “um” because you have their undivided attention. This approach also builds rapport and enhances your social communication skills.
Why Do We Use Filler Words?
People use filler words to fill pauses in their speech, thinking silence looks bad. In reality, filler words can make you sound unprepared and unprofessional. They also make it harder for others to understand you.
Filler words help us buy time while thinking of what to say next. We often don’t realize they’re used to stall for extra moments to think.
