As I approach the crossroads, I notice two workers patching up the road with cement after installing what appear to be new internet cables. What immediately stands out is the lack of signs warning passersby. In this part of the world, things just tend to move along. I take a large step to avoid the freshly laid cement but wonder if someone might step on it.
On my way back, an hour or so later, I see a deep footprint in the cement. Someone has clearly stepped on it—most likely out of carelessness—leaving a lasting impression on the road for others to see. And not necessarily a positive one.
The same thing can happen in communication. If we don’t pay close attention, we risk leaving a lasting impression on others that might harm our reputation.
I recently experienced this when I tuned into a podcast interview with someone I was excited to hear. This person leads a prominent company driving one of the most important technological trends of our time. Clearly, there was much I could learn from him.
But after about five minutes, I felt compelled to stop listening. The reason was simple: all I could hear were “umms,” “ahhs,” “you know,” “sort of,” “kind of,” and “like”—filler words drowning out the message. It was a painful exercise to extract meaning from the clutter.
A few days later, I saw a video clip of the same person being interviewed on a major television channel. Needless to say, I didn’t press play.
What a tragedy.
Here is a leader changing the course of humanity with cutting-edge technology, someone much smarter and more accomplished than I am, with invaluable insights to share. Yet, his diamonds were buried too deep in the rough, and I was put off.
Filler words must be eliminated!
While nervousness often contributes to filler words, a more fundamental cause is speaking faster than the brain can compose coherent sentences. This mismatch leaves gaps that filler words inevitably occupy.
Here are three ways to overcome this:
- Slow down. Give your brain more time to curate a message and deliver it to your vocal cords.
- Pause. Pausing is one of the most powerful tools a speaker can use. It gives you time to articulate your thoughts and forces the audience to pay attention. A well-timed pause after a key point can emphasise your message.
- Practice deliberate sentences. Try this exercise: Craft a sentence with a clear message and deliver it with force. Speak loudly. Modulate your voice. Can you hear the punctuation? Repeat this several times, and you’ll notice an immediate improvement.
Filler words can hurt your credibility. Just as we might question the attentiveness of someone who steps into wet cement, audiences might question your focus if your speech is littered with unnecessary words. Pay attention to your filler words. Be vigilant. Don’t leave a lasting footmark of carelessness.