Umming and erring in presentations

[LilyLemonade]

How can I overcome my tendency to um and err and generally stumble, stutter, hesitate and waffle when giving presentations or when speaking up in meetings?

I got some feedback on it today so I'm aware that it is noticeable and bothersome for listeners.

No doubt there is a stress response in there though I feel confident to speak up and I know my topic well (and like it).

In general, I am not especially articulate in speech - I struggle to find the right words and I also find it difficult to think and speak at the same time.

It's an issue that I feel is holding me back.

Thanks in advance for any tips. I feel I can only speak well if I learn my lines off pat ahead of time but I cannot do that every day.

Is there any training available around public speaking or leadership skills? I quite like presenting but know lots don't, my organisation has some of the above aimed specifically at women too

I think you just need to practice - in a mirror
or record yourself and also slow down. Don’t be scared of silence! If you need a minute to think
just leave it silent or come up with some
more purposeful ‘filler’ options
’on that point’
’to expand’
’moving on’

Pacing. Take your time. Pause after each sentence. One you notice uummmm its the only thing I can concentrate on.

Take more pauses. Most people run on too fast when nervous so focus on staying silent before saying your next thing.

I will look for training, thanks. There might well be some.

I will also practise more. The trouble is, it would take me really a LOT of practice to be able to deliver a presentation fluently. I also struggle to articulate my thoughts. I'm very literate but for some reason I find it difficult to find the right words. It's easier in writing.

OK I will embrace the art of the pause!!

I’m the same as you. I know what I want to say but when it comes to saying it out loud I struggle. And I’m like this even with generally chatting. When I tell a story or explain things people have mentioned that I’m confusing. I don’t know what it is.

I don’t remember being like this when I was younger so I wonder if it’s part of ageing.

I practice A LOT!!! If my boss knew how much time is spent practising she’d probably have words with me. But I will have run a 10 minute presentation though at least 20 times (some of that is sections) before I give the talk.

sometimes I also write a script. I don’t read the script or learn it but I go over and over practising talking through each bit.

It can also be useful to talk through what you are going to say with someone. Don’t necessarily give the presentation to them (you can do that too) but tell them the content. That will help you to clarify what you want to say and to notice how you sound when you are explaining the topic in a more natural way.

And also don’t be afraid to take notes of questions. You probably can’t leave long enough to write down the answers but you can note down the question and ideas if there is time. You can also have notes of topics you can cover if they come up or additional points you might like to make.

Good luck!!!

Same. I and I don't recall being like this when I was younger.

I sympathise totally! I also tend to speak very quickly & stumble over myself. I try to practice reading a few different presentations which is helping. If you have copilot at work you can get it to listen to you & it flags up if you start to speed up. Its handy for instant feedback

I try to align my presentation style with my natural conversational speaking style if that makes sense. And then I just act like I"m monologuing during a conversation ...

I don't think that many people really like talking in public and only the very worst people think badly of you for stumbling over your words. The vast majority of people really want you to do well and pausing in speech or a presentation is perfectly normal.

Film yourself and watch it back so you can understand why. You do it, how often and what else you could say.

Pause after each sentence.

Write bullets for presentations and stick to them.

Give a speech to a trusted friend or family member and have them call it out to you when you do it - bringing it to fore will help
you be aware and to stop.

In general, I am not especially articulate in speech - I struggle to find the right words and I also find it difficult to think and speak at the same time.

If you can't think and speak at the same time, you really do need to write out what you want to say in advance. You don't need to read from it like a script, just glance down to see what the next point is. Have headings in bold, or bullet points, or whatever you need to keep you on track.

It doesn't matter how well you know your topic if you can't put it across to your audience.

And it is quite painful to listen to someone stumbling and stuttering her way through a presentation. If it's really bad, people just won't want to come and listen to you.

(I do a lot of speaking and presenting, and I always have notes, even if I barely glance at them.)

You need to "get off the page" .
I would write a more or less verbatim script, but then just talk through. I often, even now, practice what i am going to say out loud, often in the car. Sometimes what you write is hard to actually say.
If i am mentoring or training someone I actively encourage them to come and practice with me. I have also, with inexperienced people shared it, or been there to pick up if they lose their way.
Can you find someone to help you?

Practice. Even if it's just In a mirror or by you recording yourself.

Give yourself time to breathe. People often rush and forget to breathe or pause.

'Mix it up' in the presentation - include a chart/video/ask if there are any questions so far? Anything that gives you a break in talking.

Think of it more as a 'chat' so you don't sound monotone.

You've got this!

The trick that cured them for me was from a video tip I saw. It said that ummms and errrs tend to come at a point you’d take a natural pause and they recommended taking a breath at that point. It actually works! At first I felt like each breath was noticeable but actually they’re not (when I listen to myself back). It worked pretty much straight away and has made a huge difference for me.

This!

if I try to make myself sound more formal or corporate or how I think others expect a ‘leader’ to speak then I stumble over my words and struggle to get through it. If I plan and script it the way that I actually speak, in a flow that feels natural then it sounds natural.

Practice and pay extra attention to allowing yourself to not rush. Take pauses, give your brain a chance to catch up with your mouth and stay focused.

Well done for being self-aware. So many speakers have no idea how amateur they make themselves sound with umming and erring and waffling. Or, the worst sin in my book, repeatedly using a filler word or phrase like “obviously” or “to be fair” when it makes no sense in the context.

I was once taught to study Barack Obama speeches for a masterclass in using pauses effectively. I also found that I got better at doing presentations when I was doing a lot of reading aloud with my toddler rather than home, gave me a daily vocal workout and got me in the swing of enunciating clearly and listening out for speech rhythms. If you don’t have a handy toddler, try reading out loud to yourself!

TED talks on YouTube or the TED website will help you too x You will get hooked on watching these!

https://www.ted.com/

Some great tips, thank you so much.
Practice and pauses seem to be the common themes though I will also think about natural speech rhythms, study masterful orators such as Obama etc.
I'm determined to improve.

That’s a great attitude. Remember silence is powerful. Pauses show you’re in command of your material, not wittering because you’re afraid someone will interrupt you.

Propranolol- stops racing heart etc, for me it’s been transformative!

One thing I find helpful is to have "anchor sentences" for each point I'm trying to make. So rather than using a script or learning it off by heart, I have a few key sentences which work well to get the point across, and then I have something to hang the rest of the section of the talk around. Then y ou just need to top and tail it, which makes the whole thing sound more relaxed and less rehearsed while still maintaining clarity of message

One thing I find helpful is to have "anchor sentences" for each point I'm trying to make. So rather than using a script or learning it off by heart, I have a few key sentences which work well to get the point across, and then I have something to hang the rest of the section of the talk around. Then y ou just need to top and tail it, which makes the whole thing sound more relaxed and less rehearsed while still maintaining clarity of message

That's a great idea, I do like to sound natural. At the same time I need to figure out how I link the different bits together because if I don't have it totally scripted, links are a danger point (I now realise) for the umming and erring. Sometimes I just blunder into the next point without any proper transition. So maybe I need anchor sentences and some pre-scripted links.