5 STEPS TO REDUCE AHS AND UHMS

There is hope. Ahs and uhms seem to be impossible to reduce or eliminate, but it can be done!!!

Professional speakers know that ahs and uhms do not add value to their message. Instead, ahs and uhms can distract the audience. It might give an impression that the speaker isn't prepared, isn't confident about what is being discussed, isn't sure of what he or she will say next, isn't organized, isn't professional.


FILLER WORDS OR FILLERS

Ahs and uhms are what you call filler words or fillers. These are words or sounds that fill in gaps or pauses and distract the audience. Words or phrases used excessively that doesn't add to the meaning of the message can also be considered fillers:
         - like
         - you know
         - actually
         - really
         - basically
         - so
For the Filipinos, words that could be fillers are:
         - ganon
         - medyo
         - parang
         - ata
         - ano
         - yung

Filler words show up when:
         - we're excessively nervous
         - our brain is working too fast
         - we haven't practiced enough
         - we think we might lose the interest or attention of the audience when a sound isn't heard
         - we're not sure of what to say next

5 STEPS TO REDUCE AHS AND UHMS

1. POWER OF PAUSING

When I'm telling a story and I'm figuring out what to say next, I'd say uhm or ah, until I come up with the next phrase or sentence. Just pause while thinking of what to say next. It's okay to pause. You don't need fillers to bridge gaps, pauses are better.

2. PACING

Speak slowly. It helps you gather your thoughts better and prepare you for your next sentence. Of course this is also about proper pacing. When you're talking about something that's action-packed, you might want to speak faster in a way that every word spoken is still clear, otherwise, speak slowly.

3. PRACTICE YOUR PIECE

If you're given a script, practice it out loud so you become comfortable with the words and have time to correct typos and other errors, and time to ask for correct pronunciations. If you're given an outline, think of what you will say and practice how you will say it by actually saying the words you will use in a quiet corner before you go on stage. If you're just given a topic, imagine an outline and think of how you will start and end the piece.

4. AWARENESS

Many times, a speaker isn't aware of his or her use of fillers. I suggest you use a gadget to record your voice. it could be an app on your phone. Tell a story for one minute on your recorder. Answer the question, "what superpower would I want to have?" Play it back and count the number of ahs and ums. This will raise your level of awareness that will help lessen your use of fillers.

5. PRACTICE WITH A PARTNER

Do number 4, but this time with a partner. Let your partner think of a question that you will have to answer in one minute. He or she should have a timer and a bell or whistle. Every time you say a filler, your partner should ring the bell or blow the whistle and start all over again with a new question. Doing this exercise for five consecutive days, even for just five minutes a day, will produce dramatic results.

When you have more time and resources, I encourage you to attend workshops or join clubs to help you improve.

Toastmasters International, a club dedicated to improving the public speaking skills of its members, have impromptu speeches every session. A topic is picked and a member is given a few seconds to think about what he or she will say, then deliver the impromptu speech. Another member is tasked to count the number of ahs and uhms and collects a peso per filler word spoken by the speaker.

Here are other links that might be of help:
http://essentialspeaking.com/2010/02/an-exercise-for-eliminating-uhms-and-ahs/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd22FcJT_IY
http://www.andrewcmacdonald.com/blog/2010/07/28/minding-your-uhms-and-ahhs-5-tips-for-avoiding-filler-words/

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