As a communication coach with over 20 years of experience, and the CEO of a communications training firm, there are few words I dread hearing more than “um.”
It’s a useless sound, and if used too frequently, it can adversely affect how people see you. In fact, research shows that when fast talkers produce a noticeable uptick in filler sounds, their audience’s impression of their competence decreases.
Here’s my best advice on how to become a more eloquent and decisive speaker.
This exercise will make you better at public speaking
I developed an effective and even fun way to eliminate egregious filler speech from your vocabulary. I call it “Silent Storytelling.” You talk, but without sound.
Imagine that you’re about to speak on live television, but the viewer has turned down the volume. You’re essentially on mute.
To get their attention, you have to speak using all of your body, and no sound. Enunciate your words as fully as possible. Gesture with as much freedom and ease as possible. Allow facial expressions as much as possible.
Think of it as lip syncing.
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When you put that much intention into mouthing and expressing each word, your brain will be more intentional about choosing specific, precise words. It then feels ridiculous to silently mouth the word “um.” The unnecessary clutter vanishes.
Do this for a few minutes every day and stick with it for about three months. You’ll soon find yourself speaking with more precision:
Try to record this if you can. Practice with something like an upcoming work presentation. Your impulse might be to try this with a personal topic, like a hobby, but I recommend going a more challenging route, and putting yourself in a professional context, since that is where you will be applying these skills the most.For the first two weeks, focus on mastering the silent version.Then transition to the “mute button” version. Alternate back to speaking with sound about every 20 to 30 seconds, but keep the same level of exaggerated expressiveness throughout your practice. Watch the entire clip without sound. You shouldn’t be able to decipher when you’re speaking versus not.
How to put your new communication skills into action
Almost any setting can fit the bill: video meetings, status updates, planning sessions, all-hands meetings.
For most people, starting with video meetings is best, both because they’re omnipresent and because they have a feature that makes committing to Silent Storytelling easy — you can watch yourself.
Position your own video box near the camera, shrink its size, and look at yourself while you speak. As you watch yourself, test if you’re using the behaviors of Silent Storytelling.
Can you see your hands moving, entering and exiting the frame? Can you see your lips moving, even noting the dark space between your top and bottom teeth as you open your mouth to enunciate words? Can you see your face allowing for dynamic expression, giving your audience cues about your ideas and feelings?
You’ll soon see what unlocks when you dedicate yourself to a life of choosing words with intention.
Michael Chad Hoeppner is a communication coach and the author of the bestselling book “Don’t Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life.” He helps U.S. Presidential candidates, CEOs, Ivy League deans, and even high school students speak well when it matters. He is the founder and CEO of GK Training, a communications training company serving Fortune 100 companies, universities, and individuals around the world.
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