All of us have listened to a presentation before and have been distracted by the speaker constantly saying “um.”  Odds are that at one time or another you’ve been that presenter.  We use these fillers for a lot of reasons, for one we think that filling the dead spaces with “um” sounds smarter than saying nothing at all.  We’re wrong, of course.  Filling in silence with “um” does nothing more than annoy your audience and may reduce your credibility as a speaker.  It may leave people questioning your grasp of the subject or your credibility to be speaking on it.  This doesn’t come to play just in face-to-face presentations, but also online presentations. It can be even worse to use fillers online since the audience can not see your physical presence and relies solely on your vocal quality. 

Here are some tips to help you be aware of the fillers you use (doesn’t have to be “um”) and how to correct them. 

• As my piano teacher used to say “practice makes perfect.”  Record yourself, notice how many times you use fillers and find a way to stop using them. 
• Practice pausing or using silence instead of saying “um”.  The pause is never as long to the audience as it feels to you.  The fact is that time is relative (Einstein once said that a second with your hand on a hot stove feels like an hour, an hour with a pretty girl feels like a second- and he should know about relativity). It is okay to take a moment to stop and think.  You will be amazed at how little time it takes your brain to process all the information it needs and come back with an intelligent response.
• Practice with a friend and find a creative way for them to communicate each time you use a filler.  Examples could include throwing a marble into a glass jar, ringing a bell, or yelling out the filler word each time you use it.  I’ve personally had someone throw marbles in a glass jar each time I said “um” and it is amazing how quickly you recognize it and correct it. 
• Videotape yourself and write down how many times you use a filler word.  The first time I did this I was dumbfounded at how many times I used “um.”
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, instead of using a filler, say, “I’m not sure; let me look that up for you.”  It is okay not to know all of the answers.
• Always prepare for your speeches by writing them out first (when it is possible).  Do not attempt to deliver a public speech without writing it out and practicing it several times beforehand.  Many times fillers are used when you are not prepared, so be prepared and know what you want to say and when.
• Break your notes into small sections.  Even good speakers can use fillers when they lose their place in their notes. 
• If your speech is lengthy, try getting your audience to give feedback or get them involved.  After so long, your brain will demand a time out.  Make your presentation more conversational than presentational if possible.
• If you are using any tools during your presentation, practice giving your speech with them.  Make sure you are comfortable with any tools you utilize and with the presentation platform so you can concentrate solely on your presentation.

You will be amazed at the increased impact you will have on your audience by simply removing the fillers.  Ummm.. good luck!