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.

That's exactly how I do it- often the anchor bits are the open and close of the point. Or the bits I struggle with when am practicing .

Toastmasters. There are clubs all around, and at every meeting, people practice speeches, and get constructive feedback. You can focus on um, ers, filler words - we all have our own. You can learn to take pauses rather than ers. It's a skill, but being in a group that focuses on speech craft is really helpful, and you can focus on ums and ers, tone of voice, body language etc - one thing at a time, so it doesn't become overwhelming.

Watching Barack Obama is an education, too. He takes some really long pauses, and is looking round his audience, checking the reaction as he does.

Practice also helps. Knowing your material, the main points. Don't learn it off by heart, but know what points you want your audience to go away with, so those bits are emphasised.

It's a skill. It can be learnt and improved, but like any other skill, it takes practice - you won't get there overnight.

I was always very wary of this as someone who had to do lots of presentations. I found, just pausing and saying nothing whilst I glanced at my notes for buzzwords helped.

If I completely lost my place, id style it out and say bear with me whilst my brain catches up with my mouth.