🎤 Choke out the “Um” with These 3 Tips! · Vocal Power

🎤 Choke out the “Um” with These 3 Tips!

About 15 years ago I was watching a recording of my live presentation to the Australian Institute of Management. I was in the audience watching this up on the big screen… feeling pretty confident, and thinking I had done a decent job.

A few minutes in, I was totally mortified to realise I said “um” and “ah” so much it was like I had Tourette’s! 😳🙈

It totally distracted everyone from what I was saying, and my message was lost. 😵‍💫 The only thing anyone remembered was all those fillers… 😬

Have YOU ever feel like you’re saying "um" so much in your speech that it could become a drinking game? 🍻

Let’s fix that!

Over the next few posts, I am going to share tips on how to ditch fillers and sound more confident and professional INSTANTLY!

First up….

The Power of the PAUSE!

Instead of filling the silence with "um," take a moment to pause. ⏸️

Think of it like a dramatic cliffhanger in your favourite TV show. 📺

Your audience will be on the edge of their seats! 🪑

Pausing gives you a moment to collect your thoughts and adds emphasis to your points. It also makes you appear more confident and in control. 💪

Tips for PRACTICE:

DELIBERATELY insert Pauses: Practise your speech and deliberately add pauses at key points, like before introducing a new idea or after a big statement. ✍️

Breathe: Use pauses as a reminder to take a deep breath. This helps you stay relaxed and maintain a steady pace. 🌬️

Count in Your Head: When you pause, count to two or three in your head before continuing. This keeps your pauses just right—not too short, not too long. ⏳

Pausing is your secret weapon in public speaking - use it well and you’ll keep your audience engaged and hanging on your every word. 🎯 So, embrace the silence!

Try this and comment below to let me know how you go!

3 comments