Talk Tip: Is it, um, okay?
Q: So, um, my boss basically says that I could use maybe a little help? I'm being deliberately flip, but seriously, how do you stop saying "um" and "ah" all the time? Is it really that bad?
It depends. On one hand, filler words are normal; so normal that a Google voice bot using fillers was criticized as deceptive because it sounded too human. On the other hand, if your coworkers can play a drinking game by tracking your filler words, you've got a problem.
To tone things down, try these:
Know your Why
First you need to dig into why you're using filler words. Are you hesitant or uncertain about what you are presenting, or about yourself? Are you "guarding your space" in a competitive work culture where people constantly interrupt each other? Do you feel it’s more polite? If you aren’t sure, record yourself (painful, but so worth it) and listen back. Filler words are a habit, so knowing your pattern is the first step to breaking it.
Enjoy the silence
Try swapping filler words out with a pause. Find a way to think about this that works for you, like “enjoying” the silence or leaving a cliffhanger. Bonus: a pause gives you space to check out your audience to make sure you’re connecting.
Project confidence
Excessive filler words can affect your credibility, leaving your audience wondering if you were unprepared, uncommitted, or even hiding something. Counter this with confident body language: start strong and take up space?
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