Dr. Michelle Johnston

It's not really that important, right?

I just need you for this.

I just need just, just eliminate just.

Eliminate but.

Eliminate should.

You should be doing this.

That's a big one.

You shoulda, you shoulda.

That's a great question.

Do you know when I was a little kid and started entering competitions for public speaking and I would get up and I mean, I was that kid who could not stop shaking.

And it's crazy that I now teach it, right?

Because I was the kid who was so nervous.

And I had all of these filler words.

And so my coaches would say, record yourself talking because you don't hear them.

And until you hear them, you can't change them.

So I remember recording on an old-fashioned tape recorder and the cassette tape of my speeches and speeches.

And then once I finally heard all of the uhs, ums, and this generation does like, you know, like, you know.

I have a 21-year-old.

Anytime she gives a speech, she's like, like, you know, like, you know.

Those are words that are distracting and they get in the way of your message.