Speaking Professionally: Recognizing and Eliminating Filler Words in Your Speech

Many of us use informal filler words such as “um,” “OK,” “like,” or “you know” in our everyday speech. Such informal language is common and usually acceptable if it is not peppered throughout our speech. However, when speaking as a professional, filler words cause your speech to be far less effective. It is during more formal presentations when those filler words often emerge, usually due to nerves. Though it is not easy to eliminate the habit of using filler words, it can be accomplished with a conscious effort.