The most important tool for any leader is communication. You don’t have to be exceptionally brilliant or highly knowledgeable— even the average Joe can be incredibly effective with strong communication skills.
There are many aspects to a good conversation. This month, we focus on an irritating one. “Filler words.”
Filler words—like “uh,” “um,” “ah,” “you know,” “I mean,” and “like”—often sneak into our conversations when our subconscious mind struggles to find the right words. They fill gaps or mask awkward silences, but over time, they become ingrained in our speech and do more harm than good. Here’s how filler words affect your communication:
- Dilute Your Message – Think of any memorable speech or conversation that moved you. Did you hear filler words? Likely not. A good conversation is focused, to the point and clean.
- Distract the Audience – Filler words can pull the listener’s focus away from your message. Instead of remembering your key points, they may only recall the repetitive “um”s and “like”s
- Makes you feel casual – Lastly, it makes you sound less professional and confident. Ask yourself: have you used them in conversations where you felt fully engaged with loved ones?”
So, what are some options to mitigate the usage of filler words?
- Self-Awareness – The first step is identifying which filler words you use and when you tend to use them. Awareness is half the battle won. Once you’re conscious of it, you can pause and pick up the conversation without the filler word. Repeating this process consistently helps break the habit. You might also ask a trusted friend or colleague to point out when you use filler words or record yourself speaking to identify patterns. No matter the approach, awareness is the foundation for improvement
- Pause – The second step is to pause whenever you feel a filler word coming. This step builds directly on self-awareness. Instead of saying the filler word, pause briefly, gather your thoughts, and then continue the conversation
- Practice – Finally, combine awareness and pausing into regular practice. Over time, with consistent effort, you’ll notice significant improvement and the difference will amaze you
If you ever needed motivation for not using filler words, imagine Mark Anthony saying, “Friends, Romans, uh, um, sorry, Countrymen. Lend me thy ears, you all” Shakespeare might turn in his grave.