![\"Filler](\"https:\/\/vs-static.virtualspeech.com\/img\/blog\/filler_words.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 1 – Film yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re anything like me, you have no idea how much you use filler words – it\u2019s as if our minds don\u2019t even register them as words. See, our minds know they add no real value to our speech, we just need to train our mouths to agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Begin filming yourself when you\u2019re talking to family or friends so that you can hear what you sound like in everyday conversations. This is the best way to become aware of filler words you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
List of some of the most common filler words<\/a> and phrases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: When referring to \u2018like\u2019 as a filler word, this does not include using the word \u2018like\u2019 as a simile, such as \u2018this cupcake tastes like heaven.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve identified your filler words, you know to listen out for them. You can also think about why you use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like any habit you want to quit, you need to commit yourself to it. Start off small and try and eliminate, or significantly decrease, your use of hesitation words in everyday conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you hear yourself say one, backtrack and replace it with the word you actually mean to say, or repeat the last couple of words without the filler word. The more you do this, the quicker you\u2019ll train your mind away from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to try and understand why you use<\/a> filler words. You might just need to slow down. When we speak too fast, we are more likely to take a moment to process our thoughts and use words such as \u2018um\u2019 or \u2018like\u2019 while our minds catches up with itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re losing your trail of thought, don\u2019t be afraid to have a moment of silence. You might think this is awkward mid-conversation, but silence is always longer in our heads than it is in reality. In fact, pausing can strengthen the message of what you\u2019re saying, especially in formal situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve become more aware of filler words in conversations, it\u2019s time to test your use of them in formal situations, where you\u2019re more likely to use them. A perfect example is presenting at a conference – something that 74% of people fear<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way of minimising your \u2018ums\u2019 and \u2018ahs\u2019 is to know your speech well<\/a>. You want to know when to talk about certain points and what you want to include in your message without memorising a script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a script can be detrimental to your speech for a number of reasons, with one of the main reasons being that you\u2019re more likely to use hesitation words not less likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might feel safer memorizing a script but if you lose your place, you won\u2019t know what\u2019s coming next because you\u2019ve learnt the script in a certain order. When you don\u2019t know what to say, that\u2019s when you\u2019ll start um, like getting er mixed up, you know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Step 2 – Break the habit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Filler](\"https:\/\/vs-static.virtualspeech.com\/img\/blog\/filler_words2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 3 – Practice in a formal setting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"VirtualSpeech](\"https:\/\/vs-static.virtualspeech.com\/img\/blog\/practice-exercises.jpg\")
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