Kill Filler Words like “Um” and “Like”

BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

I love watching award shows!

It’s so much fun to see my favorite celebrities get dressed up. Plus, it’s an opportunity to watch professional actors use the camera to their advantage – sometimes! 

I loved the movie Judy, and I thought Renee Zellweger definitely deserved the Best Actress award for playing Judy Garland. She did an amazing job!

But her acceptance speech was much less inspiring. 

It was full of “um’s” and “uh’s.” I counted at least 40. 

It’s natural to use filler words. We all do it!

I shared this post on LinkedIn and many people were surprised that such a pro would make such a speaking faux paux. 

I was curious about whether past winners had used filler words, so I watched a bunch of videos from the Best Actress category. I heard all of the winners say “um” at least once. 

Past winners such as Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, and Cate Blanchett, used filler words, but in a more natural, undistracting way. The fewer filler words, the better.

But, Frances McDormand and Meryl Streep were pretty flawless. It can be done!

Cutting down on filler words is a great way to boost your credibility and sound more professional not just when you’re accepting an award but also when you’re speaking to someone in person, in a video, in a media interview, or when you’re giving a presentation.

Here’s a list of the most common filler words  

  • Um
  • Uh
  • You know
  • I think
  • And so 
  • Like 
  • You guys
  • Guys 
  • Right 

In three steps, you can make yourself sound so much more confident. 

  1. NOTICE: First, know that you’re doing it. If you’re not aware of the problem, it’s hard to fix! Pay attention to how you speak today and see if some of these filler words sneak in.
  2. PAUSE: Catch yourself before you’re about to say one of these words and then pause. Just breathe. You have to untrain yourself from doing it.
  3. RECORD & REPEAT: Record yourself either on video or audio giving a speech or a soundbite. Listen back and check for filler words. This is a habit you can kick but sometimes it takes a little bit of time.

Don’t feel bad if you catch yourself saying these words – now you know how to fix it! Let me know how pausing helps to eliminate these words. And if you’d like some 1:1 help – it’s what I do as a media trainer – apply for a media strategy session here. 

BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

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