What does that mean? We are all human and tend to say an occasional uh, or um. However, more than two in two minutes will make you sound less professional and less qualified than you really are.
It was just me. After the panel discussion I turned and asked the people sitting with me if they noticed the excessive use of the word "um." They responded, "notice?" I couldn't concentrate on a word she said. All I heard was "um."
When interviewing, it is critical that you sound confident and professional. You may be asked questions that you are not prepared to answer. Don't fill your answer with excessive "um's" or even worse, be careful of "like" and "you know." These speech patterns may stand in between you and the job.
When people use these little words excessively it makes them sound unsure or insecure about the subject matter. Corporate Speech Solutions uses a barometer of two filler words in two minutes. Greater than that is excessive. The overused word can be "uh, um, like, you know, basically, so, and, even the word and!" If used as a space keeper while you are thinking and, if the word is used greater than two times in two minutes, it is considered a filler word. Don't let this happen to you.
The key to reducing filler words is a relatively easy, four step process. Like anything, it takes practice.
1. Increase your awareness by listening to yourself on tape during a telephone conversation and count the use of uh, um, like or you know. Remember, if greater than two in two minutes you need to work on modifying the habit.
2. Do you notice a pattern? I have noticed with many of my clients they habitually start sentences with "um." Others may use the word "and" as a connector instead of using a period. Still others have a tendency to add "you know?" at the end of a sentence for confirmation to what was said. The important point is to recognize your own personal pattern.
3. Now comes the work. Try to anticipate when you are going to say the word. Once you are aware of your pattern you will notice when you are about to say the overused word.
4. This is your cue to pause. We call it "strategic pausing." Strategic pausing will give you the time to think of what you want to say, say it and move on without inserting the filler word. Strategic pausing does not just give you time to think, it gives impact to your message. Resist the urge to fill the time with a "filler" word and you will automatically sound more impressive.
Practice these techniques every day until the filler words are no longer a part of your working vocabulary. Remember not to use the filler words when leaving voice mail messages. Notice other people using filler words excessively. Does it sound professional? Filler words can dilute the message and make you sound timid. Learning to eliminate your filler words will have a significant impact on your speech and you will automatically sound more professional. This technique works! You will sound more professional in the meeting, on the telephone and especially during an interview.
Still concerned about this problem visit us at http://www.corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more about our training.
Jayne Latz M.A., CCC-SLP, is President of Corporate Speech Solutions and is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist with over twenty years of experience. She remains active as a consultant for the business community and maintains an affiliation at New York University as well as a consulting Speech -Language Pathologist to Hunter and Brooklyn College. Her professional speech background provides her with the unique skills to aid both individuals and groups in improving their corporate communication skills.
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