Getting Rid of Verbal Crutches Like "Um" and "You Know"
Stumbling over words can be embarrassing and take away from your credibility as a speaker.
Do you use filler words like "um," "you know" and "like" when you talk? They usually come out when you're not sure what to say next. Or how to say it.
Unfortunately, they don't leave the best impression with your audience. Fluency is commonly understood as a sign of a confident, competent speaker. When you lack it, your delivery can be construed as annoying and grating, and at worst, damage your credibility.
Here are three quick tips to get you to stop relying on those verbal crutches and become a more fluent speaker.
Become aware of your favorite filler. Discover when and why it comes up most. Then, you can take steps to remove it as a crutch.
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Laura's Quick Tips
Slow your speech down.
Stick to short sentences.
Use pauses.
Train yourself to be a better public speaker - on or off camera. You'll find people listening to you more often when you come across as thoughtful and fluent speaker, as someone who clearly knows what you're talking about. Most importantly, you'll have much better odds of attracting and retaining your viewers' attention.
It's really not rocket science to become more comfortable and charismatic on camera. You just need a few tips. I have a library of 27 videos, each 2-5 minutes long, called On Camera Tips for Success. Only have less than a minute? Its companion series, On Camera Confidence, is a set of video shorts to give you quick tips on the go.
I'm Laura Doman, a former tech industry sales executive, hands-on mom, voice & TV/film actress, and improv performer. I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories, from the friendly CEO touting new upgrades to your sassy best gal pal dispensing some necessary, real-world advice...Let's Talk!
