Stop Saying 'Like' and 'You Know': Simple Tips to Speak with Confidence

any young people often find themselves using filler words like "like," "you know," and "then" when they speak.

These words can easily slip into conversations, especially when you're nervous, excited, or trying to think of what to say next.

While it's common, overusing fillers can make you sound less confident or unsure of your ideas, even when you have something important to share.

If you're ready to level up your communication skills and sound more clear and confident, this blog will give you easy tips to reduce those fillers.

Whether you're speaking in class, giving a presentation, or just chatting with friends, these strategies will help you express yourself with more confidence and clarity.

Eliminating filler words like "like," "you know," and "then" in conversations takes practice, awareness, and a few strategies. Here are some steps to help reduce their use:

1. Awareness and Self-Monitoring

• Identify Triggers: Pay attention to when you use these fillers. Is it when you're nervous, explaining something complex, or searching for the next word?
• Record Yourself: Record conversations to pinpoint moments when you frequently use these words. This will make you more conscious of your speech patterns.
• Pause Instead of Filling: When you feel the urge to say "like" or "you know," take a brief pause. It’s okay to have moments of silence while you gather your thoughts.

2. Practice Slower Speaking

• Slow Down: Speaking more slowly gives you time to form complete thoughts and helps eliminate unnecessary fillers.
• Take Breaths: Focus on taking natural breaths between sentences or thoughts. This gives you time to organize your words without feeling the need to fill the space.

3. Expand Vocabulary and Practice Clear Phrasing

• Use Precise Words: Improve your vocabulary so that you’re less likely to fall back on vague words like “like” or “then.” The more confident you are with the right words, the less you’ll need fillers.
• Practice Rephrasing: Try stating your thoughts in a clear and concise manner. You could even practice by summarizing something you’ve read or explaining a concept out loud without using fillers.

4. Ask for Feedback

• Get a Speaking Partner: Ask a friend, colleague, or family member to listen to you and signal when you use filler words. This can give you real-time feedback and reinforce your efforts.
• Join Speaking Groups: If possible, consider joining a group like Toastmasters, where public speaking is practiced and you can work on eliminating fillers in a supportive environment.

5. Focus on Confidence

• Prepare Before Speaking: If you know you’ll be discussing something, think about what you’ll say beforehand. This reduces the need for fillers while you search for words.
• Stay Calm: Often, fillers come from nervousness. Work on staying calm and maintaining eye contact to increase confidence and reduce reliance on these words.

6. Use Hand Gestures or Body Language

• Engage Physically: Incorporate more hand gestures or body movements to help fill natural pauses. This can make your speaking more dynamic and reduce the tendency to use filler words.

7. Track Progress

• Set Small Goals: Set goals for reducing specific filler words over time. For example, “This week, I’ll work on reducing my use of ‘like.’”
• Celebrate Improvements: Acknowledge progress and continue refining your speech as you gain more confidence.

By implementing these strategies, you'll become a more effective and confident speaker while reducing filler words in your conversations.

Hope this helps.