Saying "ums", "uhs", and "you know....
When listening to presentations, I always note how certain people tend to use ums, uhs, and you know during their presentation. It gets really distracting for me; however, I know I do it myself! What are some tips that I can use and maybe help others?
Edward,
good point & these can also signal transition points to your students/audience
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find using words such as "All right" or "Lets move on" gives me a chance to gather my next thoughts. It allows me a quick mental break, but without the ums or uhs. Those seem more distracting to the audience.
A lot of people say "um" when they are thinking of what they are going to say next. I think this comes from being unprepared and also lacking confidence. It is always distracting because I find myself noticing the "ums" rather than following what they are saying. I find that having a well-prepared presentation that you are really knowledgeable about helps. Preparation and rehearsal are key.
I have noticed that as well from presentations that I have attended. I always thought people used those words to clearly and concisely create an answer to the question that was asked. I can see now how rehearsing and anticipating questions can reduce the use of those fillers.
I whole heartily agree, audible pauses are distracting, annoying and make you sound unsure of yourself. The more prepared you are and the better you know your speech, the fewer audible pauses you will have.
I have been a member of Toastmasters for many years now, and my club focuses on eliminating audible pauses. The Ah Counter at our meetings gently hits a key on a child’s toy piano to alert speakers of any pauses that can be heard by the audience. In addition, it costs 5 cents for each occurrence. This practice helps us become aware of what we are saying the moment we are saying it. When I was a new member, I was astonished every time the piano was struck. I was not aware that I was saying “um.†Even after 10 years, I still say it occasionally, usually when I’m extremely nervous because someone of a higher pay grade (Director of Education) is there to evaluate my performance.
Fabiola,
this is a great point & in this way we can demonstrate our knowledge as we will be highly prepared.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Make sure that when you're practicing the presentation or preparing for it that when there are any questions about it that you yourself have, that you do the leg work to become crystal clear or it through research or someone in the audience will always guaranteed ask.
Nannette,
yes, your own familiarity with the topic & the content are crucial to feeling confident as you speak.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have found that if you are very fimiliar with the presentation material it helps because you are better prepared to speak on the topic. Also practice your speach to help with this.
I feel a real solid knowledge of the material builds confidence which reduces the hesitations and crutch words we sometimes use.
Katherine,
this is a great strategy & can really help us gather our thoughts & be able to focus.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find slowing down and pausing helps me with this problem as well. Plus, I often find myself talking too quickly, so when I start to stumble on the "filler" words, I know I need to adjust my pace and refocus on my message.
I have a tendency to say "um" and "uh" during a presentation. I have noticed that I say it more when thinking of the next thought. I try to remember that as long as you are prepared and know the subject matter, it's ok to pause - just leave out the "ums".
Being conscious about it is the first step,but if posible, if the speaker has time to practice the presentation he will become more familiar with the material. This would help a lot with this issue.
Cesar R.
Jeremy,
it is that lack of confidence in self & in knowledge of the material. The better we know the material, the better the thoughts will flow.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I believe it is a confidence issue. I have a co-worker that would "um" repeatedly in his presentations. He was visibly uncomfortable when he was in front of a class. We did the same presentation approximately 60 times in a 4 month period and his confidence was much better towards the end. He was more comfortable with the material and being in front of a crowd and it showed in his presentation.
Tu,
I have often let that bother me with other presenters as well, until I was told that I tended to do it as well! I began recording myself during lectures to gauge the points at which I was stopping and using the "filler phrase" as I like to call it, and then determined a way to avoid that the next opportunity I had to present. Many times the use of these words for me came from having a varied learner base, and many times I would be interrupted. Structuring and adhering to how you handle q&a certainly helped for me!
You are so right. I didn't realize how frequently I used the "ums" and "uhs" until I was asked recently to speak on the spare of the moment. I found myself using them while I gathered my thoughts during the presentation. Because it was a training session, they were counted at the end of my presentaton and I was amazed at the number.
Desharn,
practice really is a key to building that confidence. Often family or a good friend are our best critics, ask them to be honest in their feedback & be willing to take it.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
