07.08.2024 Today's Insights from Forbes: Ditching the "Ums" and "Ahs" for Good
Dear Students, ?
Let’s be honest here: Can any one of you truly admit to?never hearing yourself say an undesired “um” or “uh,” especially in an interview or another anxiety-provoking situation? Probably not. And, if we’ve?been there, we can be 100% certain that candidates like you have found yourself in that place, as well. Since these inadvertent utterances can make or break first impressions, though, our coaches would very much like to help ambitious international students like you and your friends to find a solution. ?
The good news is that many of the power skills our coaches are already imparting can be very useful in doing so. ?
The first step, based on speech expert Janine Maclachlan’s guidance, below, implies using power skills like self-reflection, self-awareness, and a continuous learning orientation to initiate?the process.
“Practicing the Pause” next requires students (including you) to both listen?carefully to yourself, and then use critical thinking,?to assess your current verbal communication skills, along with?creativity?to try silence, rather than filler words, when a dreaded “um” would normally have crept into your speech. ?
Then comes “Slowing Down your Delivery,” which sounds easy and yet requires confidence, patience, resilience, risk-taking and a?growth mindset, along with a healthy dose of trust from your colleagues. ?
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Practice is helpful with not only all of these, but particularly with “Identifying your Pausing Opportunities,” as well. Identifying pausing opportunities involves aspiring professionals’ using your analytical skills?on your own behalf, taking a long-term perspective and employing curiosity/inquisitiveness?to explore just where these opportunities might be found. ?
Finally, “Buddying Up” requires taking initiative, risk-taking, teamwork, a sense of humor?and time management skills, and it can be quite valuable for some of you, in certain scenarios. ?
Applying the writer’s suggestions, along with our coaches’ reinforcement of the associated power skills (and more not even mentioned) will go a long way to helping motivated young talent like you and your peers to overcome your nervous “uhs” and potentially replace these with smiling “aah!s” when you receive your desired offers! ?
Wishing you a wonderful evening, “without hesitation.” ?
Best,