Comments on: Stop Focusing on ums and ahs! http://worldchampionevaluator.com/toastmasters/stop-focusing-on-ums-and-ahs/ evaluating like a champion Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:35:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rich Hopkins http://worldchampionevaluator.com/toastmasters/stop-focusing-on-ums-and-ahs/comment-page-1/#comment-8302 Rich Hopkins Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:22:10 +0000 http://worldchampionevaluator.com/?p=611#comment-8302 I'll meet you halfway. Um's and Ah's give the appearance of uncertainty and desperation. There is a wide range of how badly these are abused. I think tracking them/dinging them is effective - I know I'm only called on them once or twice a year now. The other argument, that lack of um or ah's does not make a speaker more engaging is also true. A boring speaker is still a boring speaker - but at least they take less time being boring. Take the confidence from getting rid of Um's and Ah's and pour it into your writing and delivery style. It all works together. I’ll meet you halfway. Um’s and Ah’s give the appearance of uncertainty and desperation.

There is a wide range of how badly these are abused. I think tracking them/dinging them is effective – I know I’m only called on them once or twice a year now.

The other argument, that lack of um or ah’s does not make a speaker more engaging is also true. A boring speaker is still a boring speaker – but at least they take less time being boring.

Take the confidence from getting rid of Um’s and Ah’s and pour it into your writing and delivery style. It all works together.

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