It seems that the wretched overuse of the non-word “uhm” has been normalized in public speaking. Even professional media spokespersons get away with using it, along with other fillers including “uh,” “like,” “you know,” “so” and my most despised, “frankly.”
Non-words are a distraction and undermine a presenter’s credibility. Poor public speaking may be the norm, but that doesn’t mean you have to fall into the morass of mediocrity. Here are three techniques I teach in my comms workshops that you can put to work right now:
- Record yourself – One of the most powerful tools you have for improving your speaking and interviewing skills is to simply record yourself while practicing. You may be shocked to hear how often you utter non-words.
- Learn the art of pausing – Sometimes, we instinctively say “um” or “like” because we’re afraid of silence. However, silence can be a powerful tool in public speaking and interviewing. Pauses allow your words to land with impact and give your audience or a journalist time to process what you’ve said.
- Know your message – The more comfortable you are with your content, the less likely you are to rely on fillers to give you time to think.
If you or your team members need coaching on speaking and interviewing, consider attending my upcoming workshop December 12-13 in New York. It’s called From TV to TikTok: Next Gen Media Training. Sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America, it is open to non-members. I guarantee you will learn new skills, and, uhm, ways to avoid those pesky non-words.
Register at www.prsa.org
Make it a winning week, team!