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

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.

---

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

[mariebee]

I'm practicing this exercises as I'm preparing for a video interview. I've been doing test runs and fail every time. When I concentrate too much on not saying um, I lose my train of thought with my answers. Definitely a lose lose situation for me.

[PaulScott_]

This is an important skill to master if one intends to speak or present. I looked up this topic minutes ago because I just finished watching a curator discuss his museum and it was absolutely horrible due to multiple "uhms" and "ahhs" per sentence! When I was in the Air Force I noticed that the higher ranking Colonels and Generals spoke clearly, concisely and without ever ever using a single "Um" or "Ah". I later found out that in their command schools, they had to master this technique. I later saw an interview with a Navy "Blue Angels" commander who stated that indeed they were taught how to give interviews and answer unexpected questions without using a single "Um" or "Ah". It requires practice, practice, practice. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us!

[ruckbarbie]

I recently promoted to a public affairs director position and supervise all of the PAOs in my organization.
I dont know how or why I stopped using filler words but it's ALL I can hear they are engaging with the public. I'm revamping their outdated annual training requirements and plan to replace the handwashing module with a new lesson including this video.

[gingerzar]

I’ve watched many video recommendations on how to get rid of unnecessary filler words and this suggestion really resonated with me. Thanks!!!

[wsjacksonjr]

I like it, thanks for the insight that we use um to get people not to talk over us, um users are probably people like me who too often try to dominate a conversation. I bet good listeners have less of a problem with saying um.

[danielmocsny]

00:50 -- "So I may have developed this skill in order to maintain..." - The words "in order" before "to" are also filler words. We can almost always omit them with no loss of meaning, and just say "to". (This is common advice in books about so-called "plain language".)

[judsongaiden]

What really grates on my ears is when people say "ay" or "thee" in place of "uh" or "thuh." Also when people say "I seen" (horrifically common here in rural Indiana). And also overuse of "you know."

[fuzzysnuffles]

I've noticed that I do this when speaking on the phone with my job. It bothers me and I want to stop it because I have to make and answer many calls a day. I will try to practice this technique. Thank you.

[MorrisChannel]

For a moment, I thought he was gonna sound like gilbert gottfried

[leetunmore]

I mean, errrm, that is yet another, erm, great video. You are teaching me so much! Many thanks!

[MugnifyRTS]

Thanks for this I run a gaming channel and I want to speak more confidently on cam and this will help immensely

[shafiq_sobrie]

that is a good practice to be applied on

[dcdl]

Thanks for this. I've started a new channel that is very instructional, and my, 'err', rate is terrible. Got to work on it.

[organboi]

Who says "Ahh?" I never heard that. I hear "Uh."

[stevenungester]

Lol.. well done. Ok so you slipped twice.. probably not a big deal.

[randompanda]

Come on, that was not a natural off-the cuff ramble, that was read off of text, or at least very rehearsed one can see it very clearly how you switch to doing that