Awareness is the Key to Stopping Overuse of Filler Words

Filler words are those useless words and phrases that we use to fill the silence while we’re thinking about what to say next. They can be distracting to listeners and can make us sound less intelligent and less credible.

The good news is that it’s possible to stop using filler words. The first step is to become aware of when you’re using them. This can be difficult, because we often don’t realize that we’re doing it.

One way to become more aware of your filler words is to record yourself speaking. Once you have a recording, listen back to it and pay attention to how often you use filler words. You can also ask a friend or family member to listen to you speak and point out any filler words that they notice. There are also apps that can help by listening to you and alerting you to the use of filler words.

Once you’re aware of your filler words, you can start to work on eliminating them from your speech. One way to do this is to simply pause instead of using a filler word. This can be awkward at first, but it will become more natural with practice.

Another way to stop using filler words is to slow down your speech. When you speak more slowly, you have more time to think about what you’re going to say next and you’re less likely to use filler words.

Here are some specific tips for stopping the use of filler words:

• Record yourself speaking and listen back for filler words.
• Ask a friend or family member to listen to you speak and point out filler words that they notice.
• Pause instead of using a filler word.
• Slow down your speech.
• Be mindful of your filler words and catch yourself when you use them.

Good communication skills is an important skill for career advancement and success. By eliminating filler words from your speech, you can make yourself sound more intelligent, credible, and confident.

Here are some examples of how to replace filler words with pauses:

• Instead of saying: “I um, I think that we should do this.”
• Say: “I think that we should do this.”
• Instead of saying: “So, like, I’m really excited about this project.”
• Say: “I’m really excited about this project.”
• Instead of saying: “Well, you know, I think that we should go with this option.”
• Say: “I think that we should go with this option.”

As you practice speaking without filler words, you’ll start to feel more comfortable and confident. Your communication skills will improve, and you’ll be well on your way to career advancement and success.