| Recently I attended a panel discussion with three | | | | yourself on tape during a telephone conversation |
| speakers. One of the young women was very | | | | and count the use of uh, um, like or you know. |
| well spoken but used filler words excessively. At | | | | Remember, if greater than two in two minutes |
| Corporate Speech Solutions we use a barometer | | | | you need to work on modifying the habit. |
| of two filler words in two minutes. This woman | | | | 2. Do you notice a pattern? I have noticed with |
| used over ten in the first minute!! | | | | many of my clients they habitually start |
| What does that mean? We are all human and | | | | sentences with "um." Others may use the word |
| tend to say an occasional uh, or um. However, | | | | "and" as a connector instead of using a period. Still |
| more than two in two minutes will make you | | | | others have a tendency to add "you know?" at |
| sound less professional and less qualified than you | | | | the end of a sentence for confirmation to what |
| really are. | | | | was said. The important point is to recognize your |
| It was just me. After the panel discussion I | | | | own personal pattern. |
| turned and asked the people sitting with me if | | | | 3. Now comes the work. Try to anticipate when |
| they noticed the excessive use of the word "um." | | | | you are going to say the word. Once you are |
| They responded, "notice?" I couldn't concentrate | | | | aware of your pattern you will notice when you |
| on a word she said. All I heard was "um." | | | | are about to say the overused word. |
| When interviewing, it is critical that you sound | | | | 4. This is your cue to pause. We call it "strategic |
| confident and professional. You may be asked | | | | pausing." Strategic pausing will give you the time |
| questions that you are not prepared to answer. | | | | to think of what you want to say, say it and |
| Don't fill your answer with excessive "um's" or | | | | move on without inserting the filler word. |
| even worse, be careful of "like" and "you know." | | | | Strategic pausing does not just give you time to |
| These speech patterns may stand in between | | | | think, it gives impact to your message. Resist the |
| you and the job. | | | | urge to fill the time with a "filler" word and you will |
| When people use these little words excessively it | | | | automatically sound more impressive. |
| makes them sound unsure or insecure about the | | | | Practice these techniques every day until the filler |
| subject matter. Corporate Speech Solutions uses | | | | words are no longer a part of your working |
| a barometer of two filler words in two minutes. | | | | vocabulary. Remember not to use the filler words |
| Greater than that is excessive. The overused | | | | when leaving voice mail messages. Notice other |
| word can be "uh, um, like, you know, basically, so, | | | | people using filler words excessively. Does it |
| and, even the word and!" If used as a space | | | | sound professional? Filler words can dilute the |
| keeper while you are thinking and, if the word is | | | | message and make you sound timid. Learning to |
| used greater than two times in two minutes, it is | | | | eliminate your filler words will have a significant |
| considered a filler word. Don't let this happen to | | | | impact on your speech and you will automatically |
| you. | | | | sound more professional. This technique works! |
| The key to reducing filler words is a relatively | | | | You will sound more professional in the meeting, |
| easy, four step process. Like anything, it takes | | | | on the telephone and especially during an |
| practice. | | | | interview. |
| 1. Increase your awareness by listening to | | | | |