Matt Abrahams

So, it's hard to do, but the single best way to get rid of the filler words that are most annoying, and those are the ones that come between thoughts. So, when I'm done speaking, and then I start speaking again, that one sits out there and is very distracted. You can reduce these or eliminate them by controlling your breath. Try this for me.

So, it's hard to do, but the single best way to get rid of the filler words that are most annoying, and those are the ones that come between thoughts. So, when I'm done speaking, and then I start speaking again, that one sits out there and is very distracted. You can reduce these or eliminate them by controlling your breath. Try this for me.

So, it's hard to do, but the single best way to get rid of the filler words that are most annoying, and those are the ones that come between thoughts. So, when I'm done speaking, and then I start speaking again, that one sits out there and is very distracted. You can reduce these or eliminate them by controlling your breath. Try this for me.

Do this activity for me if you're willing to play along. I'd like you to say the word um while exhaling. So we'll do it together. On the count of three, let's both say um while pushing air out. Ready? One, two, three. Um. Now I want you to do the same thing while inhaling. Ready? One, two, three. Can't do it. You can't do it. You can't speak while inhaling. It's speaking as an exit only event.

Do this activity for me if you're willing to play along. I'd like you to say the word um while exhaling. So we'll do it together. On the count of three, let's both say um while pushing air out. Ready? One, two, three. Um. Now I want you to do the same thing while inhaling. Ready? One, two, three. Can't do it. You can't do it. You can't speak while inhaling. It's speaking as an exit only event.

Do this activity for me if you're willing to play along. I'd like you to say the word um while exhaling. So we'll do it together. On the count of three, let's both say um while pushing air out. Ready? One, two, three. Um. Now I want you to do the same thing while inhaling. Ready? One, two, three. Can't do it. You can't do it. You can't speak while inhaling. It's speaking as an exit only event.

So here's the magic trick. If at the end of my sentences and phrases, I train myself to be completely out of breath. I must inhale before I can say something else. You've got no fuel for the um. That's exactly right. And you build in a pause while you're taking the breath. And pauses are good. So this is not easy. The way you practice this is reciting lists of things.

So here's the magic trick. If at the end of my sentences and phrases, I train myself to be completely out of breath. I must inhale before I can say something else. You've got no fuel for the um. That's exactly right. And you build in a pause while you're taking the breath. And pauses are good. So this is not easy. The way you practice this is reciting lists of things.

So here's the magic trick. If at the end of my sentences and phrases, I train myself to be completely out of breath. I must inhale before I can say something else. You've got no fuel for the um. That's exactly right. And you build in a pause while you're taking the breath. And pauses are good. So this is not easy. The way you practice this is reciting lists of things.

So I instruct my students, the people I coach, look at your diary, your calendar, whatever you call it. Most of us refer to it multiple times a day. One of those times a day you look at it, simply speak out loud what's on your schedule. And at the end of each item that you speak, land the phrase, be out of breath. So I might say, doing lunch with Chris, recording a podcast with whoever.

So I instruct my students, the people I coach, look at your diary, your calendar, whatever you call it. Most of us refer to it multiple times a day. One of those times a day you look at it, simply speak out loud what's on your schedule. And at the end of each item that you speak, land the phrase, be out of breath. So I might say, doing lunch with Chris, recording a podcast with whoever.

So I instruct my students, the people I coach, look at your diary, your calendar, whatever you call it. Most of us refer to it multiple times a day. One of those times a day you look at it, simply speak out loud what's on your schedule. And at the end of each item that you speak, land the phrase, be out of breath. So I might say, doing lunch with Chris, recording a podcast with whoever.

And at the end, I'm completely out of breath and I begin to train myself to land my phrases. Think of a gymnast who sticks their landing. And when you do that, you literally take the oxygen out of the ability to say filler words. It takes a little bit of practice, but if you do it, you will reduce them and you will reduce the distractions that too many ums and uhs cause.

And at the end, I'm completely out of breath and I begin to train myself to land my phrases. Think of a gymnast who sticks their landing. And when you do that, you literally take the oxygen out of the ability to say filler words. It takes a little bit of practice, but if you do it, you will reduce them and you will reduce the distractions that too many ums and uhs cause.

And at the end, I'm completely out of breath and I begin to train myself to land my phrases. Think of a gymnast who sticks their landing. And when you do that, you literally take the oxygen out of the ability to say filler words. It takes a little bit of practice, but if you do it, you will reduce them and you will reduce the distractions that too many ums and uhs cause.

Yeah. So there is a threshold for most people where a certain number of ums and uhs is acceptable and then you cross over it. If you look... And I can't remember the exact number of how many most of us have, but in a given two-minute, five-minute interaction, there are multiple that we typically do in conversation. And that does not impact our liking, our status, our perceptions that others have.

Yeah. So there is a threshold for most people where a certain number of ums and uhs is acceptable and then you cross over it. If you look... And I can't remember the exact number of how many most of us have, but in a given two-minute, five-minute interaction, there are multiple that we typically do in conversation. And that does not impact our liking, our status, our perceptions that others have.

Yeah. So there is a threshold for most people where a certain number of ums and uhs is acceptable and then you cross over it. If you look... And I can't remember the exact number of how many most of us have, but in a given two-minute, five-minute interaction, there are multiple that we typically do in conversation. And that does not impact our liking, our status, our perceptions that others have.

But when you 2X that, multiply that twice over, then it becomes very distracting. And interestingly, it's where they come as well. So if I start with... Versus in the midst of speaking, um, and I keep speaking or at the end, it has different perceptions. So it's not just the number, it's where they're happening. The ones in the midst of communication are the least bothersome.

But when you 2X that, multiply that twice over, then it becomes very distracting. And interestingly, it's where they come as well. So if I start with... Versus in the midst of speaking, um, and I keep speaking or at the end, it has different perceptions. So it's not just the number, it's where they're happening. The ones in the midst of communication are the least bothersome.