ACTIVATE TO CAPTIVATE
  • Home
  • Universities
  • Companies
  • Free Tips
  • About
  • Events
  • Testimonials
  • Clients
  • Contact

Fillers - Um, Uh, Like

4/4/2016

 
During a presentation, nothing steals the spotlight away from a presenter the way fillers (um, like, ya know) do. People work hard to make sure their presentation content is compelling, organized, and elegantly designed. They rehearse the speech over and over until they feel comfortable with the flow. However, once they get in front of an audience, they notice those pesky fillers — um, uh, like — peeking out. Until soon, the word they’ve said the most throughout their presentation isn’t the main topic, it is a filler.

WHY DO WE USE FILLERS?
​People most commonly use fillers when they are trying to form their thoughts. Instead of staying silent they interject sounds (uh, um) or words (like, so). Speakers often fear silence. This fear stems from every presenter’s nightmare of forgetting their speech and standing up on the stage not knowing what to say. Silence can trigger that inner panic about forgetting. Therefore most speakers subconsciously would rather fill their speech with filler words than be on stage without anything to say. 

IT IS OK TO SAY UM
In real life, people say um, uh, so, etc. During a long presentation, if a filler is used, it is fine. I am always a fan of a conversational tone over a fake, memorized one. Normally the audience won’t register a couple of fillers. However, when those filler words start being noticeable and take away from the momentum of your speech, that is when there is an issue.

HOW TO DECREASE FILLERS
The first step when addressing any issue is to be conscious that one exists. If a speaker does not know that they have an issue, they won’t take the time to fix it. During a rehearsal ask the audience if they notice a lot of filler words. Or, listen to a recording of a rehearsal or previous presentation and count how many times a filler is used. 

The next step is actually working on the issue by being extra conscious of fillers during rehearsal. Get into the habit of pausing instead of saying fillers. If a filler starts being spoken, stop and pause before beginning the speech again. Sometimes it is helpful to start the section over and focus on not using the filler words. However, use this technique sparingly so a new habit doesn’t form of always restarting sentences whenever a filler word pops up. 

Another tool to decrease fillers is to take extra time practicing the content. Make sure the ideas flow naturally. If the ideas are clear and fully flushed out, there won’t be a need to say fillers.

SUMMARY
Once your realize you use fillers, make a conscious effort to pause instead of using them. Without fillers, the message will be stronger and the presentation will be more powerful.

    Author

    Bri McWhorter is the Founder and CEO of Activate to Captivate.

    Categories

    All
    Interview Tips
    Leadership Tips
    Presentation Tips

    Videos

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    View my profile on LinkedIn

Click to Contact

© 2014-2022 Activate to Captivate, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Click here for our Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Universities
  • Companies
  • Free Tips
  • About
  • Events
  • Testimonials
  • Clients
  • Contact