How can you eliminate filler words by using transitions effectively?
The Challenge
Filler words, like "um," often come out when we're gathering our thoughts or moving from one point to the next. Take 15 minutes to brainstorm transition phrases you could use instead. Some ideas include, "Let's move on to…", "Another thing we should consider is…", or "Give me a moment to think that through…"
Why do this?
Overusing filler words--"um," "like," "so"--makes you come across as nervous and unprepared. While saying them a few times during a presentation is no big deal, your credibility is severely impacted when they start to clutter your sentences. (By the way, if you noticed that this challenge is similar to another one you've done, you're right. It is! We developed a whole series on avoiding filler words, and this challenge is part of that series.)
Learning to speak more precisely and avoid verbalizing your pauses will greatly elevate your oral communication skills.
What’s next?
Record yourself speaking during a meeting at the beginning of the week, and again at the end of the week, after you've implemented this challenge. Do you notice a difference in the number of filler words you use?
