Researchers say “umming” your way through a speech, a presentation, an interview, or even everyday conversation will give a listener a negative impression. Here are some simple strategies to cut them out quick.
Do you, uh, say, errr , you-know , uhhhh all the time when you speak? These Crutch Words will make the listener think…
- You are less intelligent than you really are.
- You don’t know what you are talking about.
- You are not prepared.
You don’t want any of those misperceptions out there. Try this simple technique for fixing your um’s, ah’s, and crutch words FAST! Complete with a practice plan.
UMM UM UH ERR ER – STOP IT FAST! If you are an “umm um uh err er” speaker, you really need to break that annoying verbal pause habit.
Why? Researchers say “umming” your way through a speech, a presentation, an interview, or even everyday conversation makes the listener think:
- You are less intelligent than you really are.
- You don’t know what you are talking about.
- You are not prepared.
You don’t want any of those misperceptions out there, so here’s a simple technique for fixing it:
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!! That’s right – shut it!
You’ve seen Angelina Jolie on the front of all the magazine covers, haven’t you? Remember those lips? They’re almost always lightly closed with that faint smile.
An “um” or “er” can’t slip out, if your mouth is closed just exactly like hers.
UMM UMM PRACTICE PLAN
Follow this five minute a day practice plan to break the habit, once and for all:
Pretend someone asked you a question – right now.
Got it?
- SHUT your mouth before you start to answer.
- Say a few words out loud to answer.
- SHUT your mouth to think.
- Then finish your sentence.
Try it again.
Answer this question out loud right now:
What was the last thing you thought about before you fell asleep last night?
- STOP!!
- SHUT your mouth. Think first.
- Start to answer.
- SHUT your mouth. Stop to think.
- Finish your answer. SHUT your mouth.
This takes a lot of practice, if you are a chronic “Ummer”. Start today. Driving in your car. Cooking dinner. Watching TV. Talking to friends and family. Practice talking without those “UM’s”.
This will make your “listenability” go straight up.
Those “umms” actually cause tiny stalls in your listener’s ability to hear you. Every time you do one, the listener has to get back on track. That doesn’t do you any favors. It means they may lose or miss some of your most important points.
