Umm... Uhh... Non-words in Public Speaking

[Karen Tiede]

There's a simple solution to the non-words "umm" and "uhh" in public speaking: it is virtually impossible to "umm" and "uhh" when you are making eye contact with a specific person.

Umms and uhhs happen when you look at your notes, the wall, the ceiling, the floor, or a crowd. They never happen while you are looking directly at another person's eyes. Try it for yourself. Observe how people make eye contact when they speak, or don't, at the next meeting you attend.

If you're on the phone, and more importantly, when you are recording the call for subsequent distribution (and posterity!), look at a picture of a real person. (Caveat: make sure the person in the picture is someone who elicits appropriate vocabulary for the call. You don't want to accidentally slip into baby talk during a marketing presentation.) In a pinch, speaking to a drink bottle or a coffee cup, pretending it has eyes, will do, but a picture of a real person is better.

Dogs cooperate more than cats.

The first time you try to make eye contact with a real person when and every time you speak, your eyes will hurt by the end of the day. Then, you'll start noticing how few people make eye contact all the time.

Spread the word. Make eye contact when you do it.

We discovered this solution in Powerful, Persuasive Speaking, a two-day class presented by Alan Hoffler of Mills Wyck Communications. If being more persuasive would help you be more effective in your work or vocation, we cannot recommend this class enough. In my session, one professional (NSA) and one pretty good amateur speaker both observed marked improvement in delivery skills. People with no prior training in public speaking made amazing improvements.

[Bob Wagner]

Great Post!
Something I have noticed is that until it was brought to my attention at a Toastmasters meeting when they had a "Grammarian" actually counting the speakers Ummm's and Uhhhs, I never really took notice of others using them. Now I find MYSELF counting them, even when I am watching people on TV.

It ummmmm drives me nuts now.

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

Karen! This is amazing information. Thank you! I am going to share this on my fan page and give you kudos! On a personal note, what do I do when I make eye contact and then "forget" what I was going to say?? I guess it wasn't that important? This is very good information.

Thank you!

[Karen Tiede]

Angel, please give the credit to Alan Hoffler--he's the person who taught it to me.

Re forgetting: I suspect the best answer is, "oops, I just forgot what I wanted to say!" Umming and uhhing... and all the other fillers don't help, for certain.

[Karen Tiede]

Personally, I have found that I usually "forget" when what I wanted to say was MORE important, rather than less. More important often means "Difficult," which tends to blank.

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it...

[Karen Tiede]

I haven't had the nerve to watch the video... brave woman!

[Christine Alexander]

WoooHoooo! I loved his 2-Day workshop! It is a MUST for anyone who want's to advance their career. Alan ROCKS:-)

[Heather O'Sullivan (HeatherO)]

great share!
Good point about the webcam Cameron. I'm thinking that would even be good when you're on the phone, even just looking at your self (gives you that focus whoever it is I would think?)

Sometimes I find it more difficult when I am looking at people (maybe I'm not focusing on the eye contact enough). I am HIGHLY visual so that can be terribly distracting. I will play around with the webcam idea during phone calls and see how that goes.
** love the "dogs cooperate more that cats" Hilarious!