Speak Clearly: Stop Saying 'Um' or 'Ahh' With This Simple Exercise

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This video teaches you a simple exercise you can use to eliminate the annoying habit of filling every silence with "um" or "ahh". If you have these bad habits, this video is for you.

In this video, I demonstrate the exercise.

If you watch it you will be able to:

-- Identify bad habits in your own vocal and presentation style.
-- Eliminate these bad habits with practice.
-- Dramatically and rapidly improve your public speaking skill.

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Back in the 1980s when I was a graduate student teaching my first class, I asked a friend to come watch me teach.

She said I did a good job, but I said "um" and "ahh" too much.

Ouch!

Not sure why that criticism still stings 30-some years later, but it does.

One of the most annoying aspects of my own speaking style is my tendency to fill every pause and silence with some sound, normally "um" or "ahh".

I've done it for a long time, and it's been a hard habit to break.

Maybe you do it too.

It's actually not a bad habit in conversation, where any silence risks being interpreted as the end of your turn. If you want to hold onto the floor (i.e., your turn at talk), you can fill silences with sound.

But when you are giving a speech or presentation, it's a habit that makes you look and sound less professional.

I was just re-reading Max Atkinson's great book on public speaking, "Lend Me Your Ears," when I came across a simple exercise that can help you eliminate bad vocal habits like this one.

Keywords: communication skills training; presentation skills; pubic speaking tips; improve speaking skill; speak more clearly