How to Avoid Filler Words
I'll be showing you how to avoid filler words on this week's episode of MasterTalk. Connect with me on Linkedin: Brenden Kumarasamy
1. Understand why we say filler words in the first place. (0:54)
The journey to getting rid of these pesky words in our vocabulary is to first figure out where they come from and the answer’s pretty simple. We forget what we want to say in a conversation or a presentation or any other context, so naturally we get nervous and think about it, and then we use filler words to buy us time.
So, now that we understand this, what do the best speakers in the world do differently? Well, the secret is that the best speakers in the world say nothing to buy time, not even a sound. So, they forget what they want to say next, they don’t have this amazing memory or anything, so naturally they get nervous and afraid, but they say nothing to buy the same amount of time. This is how to avoid filler words.
2. Use pauses to get rid of filler words. (2:36)
The idea is simple, the more comfortable you are with pausing in a presentation or a conversation, the easier it is for you to apply those pauses in those settings, so the next time you want to buy time, you’ll be a lot more comfortable to just pause, until you know what you want to say next, simple as that. This is how to avoid filler words.
The best way to practice pauses is what I call long stares. You go up to somebody that you know and you stare at them for 5 minutes without saying anything, you’re allowed to blink, but the challenge is that most people in the world can’t really hold it for very long, but if you keep working on it, you’ll eventually get really good at it and you’ll be able to use it to your advantage when you pause for much shorter periods of time. This is how to avoid filler words.
3. Understand the process from always using them to mastering this skill. (4:39)
Our relationship with silences are very similar, by the way, to the relationship we have with our parents. So, when we’re young and we walk into a convenience store and say, hey mom, dad, I want this chocolate bar. Any great parent, which is most of them, will say eh no, Brenden, it’s not healthy for you, we’re not buying you one. When we’re young, our parents control our lives in the same way silences and pauses do. But overtime, as our relationship evolves with our parents, at least I hope for the most of you, you mature and get a job and make your own decisions, same rule applies with silences and pausing. Overtime, as we get better with silences, we can use them wisely to remove all of our filler words. This is how to avoid filler words.
As always, if you enjoyed this week’s episode of MasterTalk, be sure to SMASH that LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel to see more videos like this and if you know one person that’s always saying filler words, eh, bleh, ah, um, send them this video so that they’ll be one step closer to mastering their talk.
For business or public speaking coaching inquiries, you can reach me at [email protected].
Special thanks to Maison Leporem for letting me use the space.
https://maisonleporem.com/