Eliminating Verbal Graffiti

"Thanks for, um, inviting me to speak.  I'm, you know, excited to be here.  Let's get started, okay?" 

Have you ever found yourself thinking after a speaker's first sentence, "This is going to be a l-o-n-g presentation!"

I'm reading a book called The Exceptional Presenter - A Proven Formula to Open Up and Own the Room, by Timothy Koegel.  Whether you want to improve your already dazzling speaking skills, or are looking for ways to overcome a deep-seated dread of public speaking, this book will help.  You'll also find that the principles apply whether you are speaking to one person or one hundred. 

For example, the topic of verbal graffiti; I figured I had this one pretty well under control.  I work hard not to utter the dreaded "um" and "you know" when speaking.  However, the author added a few additional examples to my list of filler words and phrases to carefully monitor. 

And, and, and... Be sure to end one sentence and start the next, don't allow your presentation to be one long run-on sentence. 

To be honest with you...  This may cause your audience to wonder whether you've been lying up until now.

Actually... I actually think...  Used this way, words like actually and really are superfluous - they create no added value.

Okay, right, see...  Speakers that end nearly every sentence with "okay?" make me want to stick my fingers in my ears!

Another response that's not mentioned in the book, but that I've heard repeatedly of late is "Gotcha."  Gotcha, usually uttered as the first speaker nears the end of a sentence, is verbal shorthand for "I understand what you're saying."  I'm not sure if it's the compression of an entire phrase into two syllables, or the fact that I always feel the need to speak faster when someone responds with "gotcha", but it's a word I'd like to see used sparingly, if at all.

So how does one overcome the use of verbal graffiti?  The author suggests making its elimination a 24/7 project.  Don't just avoid ums and you knows when standing before a group, listen for them and eliminate them from every day speech.

Gotcha!  Thanks, that's good advice.