How can you kill your credibility in three words?
Um, like, uh.
Been there, done that.
No matter how much you've researched your topic or prepared for an important job interview
or presentation as soon as you let those filler words creep into your speech, the perception
of you lacking authority becomes a reality.
In this video we look at five speaking tips to minimize those filler words and help you
convey credibility every time you speak.
Riaz Meghji: Hi I'm Riaz Meghji, founder of the Every Conversation
Counts platform and 17 year television broadcaster.
This is the channel that helps you present with confidence, captivate your audience,
and connect authentically every time you speak on camera and on stage.
If you're new here, subscribe to the channel and hit the bell so you are the first to know
when new content is released every single week.
Riaz Meghji: Our filler words, they are placeholders that
give us a moment to collect our thoughts while we are speaking.
Sometimes the um or ah can be effective as they help humanize you, as it brings a realness
to your delivery that can get your audience to pay attention.
The tricky part is when we overuse the ums and ahs to the point it distracts listeners
from your message.
Now if you want to present with confidence and eliminate those dreaded filler words,
consider these five ideas.
Riaz Meghji: We can get so comfortable with our own crutch
words that we often fail to notice them.
We all have them.
We all use them.
A great starting point is to become aware of what our filler words are in the first
place and there are two ways to do this.
First, practice speaking in front of a couple of friends that you trust and have them document
the number of times you sneak them into your presentation.
You could get really into this by having your informal audience clap or just ring a bell
when they hear an um or ah to make you aware of this habit.
Riaz Meghji: The second option is to record yourself and
watch the playback to discover your filler word use firsthand.
If this feels awkward, check out the video How To Become A Better Speaker On Camera right
here on this channel.
The People Science Firm quantified communications revealed research that the optimum frequency
of filler words as one um or ah per minute, but the average speaker uses five fillers
per minute.
Look, I've been guilty of this as well.
The occasional um, basically, or essentially among others.
But how do I know?
Because I watched the playback meticulously to catch myself doing it and proactively work
on eliminating these verbal crutches.
Riaz Meghji: Number two, pinpoint your hot spots.
The most common filler word hot spots are usually when you're starting or ending a sentence,
transitioning to your next thought, or when you begin to answer a question.
Watch for this.
The next time somebody asks you a question try and catch yourself if your initial reaction
to answer is um or ah.
Most people start their sentences with so.
And I've been guilty of this next one, ending your sentences with, "Right?"
Which can totally undermine your belief in your own idea.
Riaz Meghji: Number three, practice chunking.
It sounds weird, I know.
In cognitive psychology chunking is a technique that involves grouping information into smaller
segments so it's more easily understood.
This helps the presenter avoid the filler words and helps your audience retain as much
relevant information as possible.
For example, if you're presenting three big ideas work in a structure of presenting three
different sections and in between each section take a breath, then proceed.
And chunk your information by finding the right amount of detail relevant to your audience.
We talk about the best questions to ask to discover what's important to your listeners
in the video, How To Start Your Presentation here on the channel.
Riaz Meghji: We all know pauses are powerful and if you
want to turn your weakness into a strength, replace your filler word with a pause.
The Harvard Business Review shared data that the average speaker only takes three and a
half pauses per minute, which isn't enough.
Take a breath, slow down, and pause purposefully in between points.
Just make sure your pauses max out around five seconds, anything longer than that could
signal to the audience you may have lost your train of thoughts.
A good way to remember this is pause, think, reply.
One of the biggest causes of filler words is being nervous.
Well placed pauses help calm your nerves and help you appear more confident with your audience.
And the power pauses can even draw the audience in or emphasize an important point.
Remember, focus on how your ideas can help your listeners instead of worrying about how
you're being perceived.
This is a game changing mindset to manage your speaking anxiety.
For more tips on how to calm your nerves when speaking, make sure to check out this video
and I'll put the link in the description as well.
Riaz Meghji: Final point.
If you struggle with overusing filler words, this might sound completely ridiculous.
But trust me, it works.
Close your mouth.
When someone asks you a question and you can't help but begin your answer with ah do this
one thing.
Just close your mouth.
Yes, it sounds simple.
But watch how this simple act helps prevent you from filling the gaps with sounds versus
delivering silence from your closed mouth.
The silence can build suspense for the audience and make them believe that important insights
are coming.
Riaz Meghji: A final thought on this, just prepare and
practice as much as you can.
The more preparation you can do to help manage your anxiety, the lower the likelihood you'll
be stretching for that next thought and covering the transition with a filler word.
Following these five speaker tips will help you build your self-awareness and with your
efforts to catch your filler fixes, earn more respect from your audience.
Riaz Meghji: Hit me up in the comments, what's your best
tip for avoiding those filler words?
I want to hear what has worked for you.
For more ideas on building human connection you can download the free guide, The Five
Secrets To Making Every Conversation Count.
That link is in the description below.
Thanks for watching this video.
For more ideas on how to calm your nerves when speaking and tips on becoming a better
listener check out these videos.
If you like this one hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and feel free to
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We'll see you in the next video.