Quick Tip: Eliminate Fillers to Communicate More Clearly and Confidently
Eliminate fillers, such as um and like, to communicate more clearly and confidently.
The overuse of fillers detracts from your message. Quite often, people focus more on your filler words than you’re actual message. Furthermore, people might wrongly assume that your overuse of fillers means that you don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re lying, or that you’re nervous.
Pause when you need a moment to gather your thoughts and before responding to questions. Do this in EVERY conversation you have and you will get used to those moments of silence, which are actually helpful for listeners who are taking in the information you are delivering.
The best way to become a great presenter, public speaker, or media spokesperson is to elevate your communication skills on a daily basis.
This post was written by Lisa Elia, a Los Angeles-based media trainer, presentation trainer, pitch coach, communication expert, and speaker. She trains clients for media interviews, speeches, internal and external presentations, investor presentations, and promotional videos. With more than 20 years of experience, Lisa has prepared clients for interviews with TODAY, GMA, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, ESPN, and hundreds of other outlets. Lisa has shared her expertise with national media outlets that include Inc., Entertainment Tonight, E!, and many others.
To discuss your training needs, contact the Expert Media Training office at 310-479-0217.
Identify points of surface-contact and face-to-face human interaction that are required in your business.
Adjust the tone of your communications to meet people where they are in terms of em
Video conferencing can be an extremely effective way to hold meetings and deliver presentations. People tend to try to focus solely on the meeting and ignore distractions because their face is zoomed in on, they are probably less likely to be looking at other devices or whispering to someone next to them.
Somehow, most people look much more serious on video than in person. Greet people warmly with a smile at the start of the video meeting or presentation just as you would if you were welcoming them into your home.
Since there can be delays in video and sound transmission on video calls, pausing a bit more than usual will give people time to assimilate your message and to respond. Pausing periodically is especially important on group calls where different people may want to speak.
With video calls, it’s as if you are inviting someone (or a group of people) into your office, so it’s important to create a good experience for them.
During in-person meetings, people’s eyes may stray and they may not look directly at you as much as when you’re communicating via video. This is why it’s important to pay extra attention to your personal appearance.
When working with my clients, I teach them a preparation ritual to help them manage nervousness and focus their minds before presentations, media interviews, and other high-stakes situations. Shifting your energy and preparing to be fully present for your meeting or presentation can help you to perform better and will make a vast difference in the way you feel and are perceived.
This article was written by Lisa Elia, a Los Angeles-based media trainer, presentation trainer, communication expert and speaker. In addition to helping clients with crisis communication management and planning, she trains clients for media interviews, speeches, investor presentations and promotional videos. With more than 20 years of experience, Lisa has prepared clients for interviews with Today, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, ESPN, and hundreds of other outlets. Lisa has been interviewed and shared her expertise with national media outlets that include Inc., Fox News, Entertainment Tonight, E! Entertainment and many others.
