How to speak confidently without making sound of "umm" and "aaan"

That "um" and "ah" habit (physically known as filler words) usually happens because your brain is moving faster than your mouth—or because you're afraid of the "dead air" while you think of the next word.

Here is a practical guide to reclaiming your silence and speaking with more authority.

1. Embrace the Power of the Pause

The most confident speakers aren't the ones who talk the fastest; they are the ones who aren't afraid of silence.

• The Swap: Whenever you feel an "aaaah" or "um" coming on, simply close your mouth.

• The Result: A two-second silence makes you look thoughtful and controlled. To you, it feels like an eternity; to the listener, it sounds like a deliberate transition.

2. Slow Down Your Cadence

Filler words often act as "buffer" sounds while our brain hunts for the next sentence. If you speak slightly slower than your resting pace, your brain has time to map out the next phrase before you get there.

• Focus on Enunciation: If you focus on the crispness of your consonants, you naturally slow down.

3. Use "Short and Punchy" Sentences

We often use fillers when we get lost in long, rambling sentences.

• The Strategy: Aim for one idea per sentence.

• The Benefit: When you finish a short sentence, there is a natural "period." That period is your chance to breathe and think without needing to fill the gap with sound.

4. Practice the "Eye Contact Lock"

We often say "um" when we look away to think (looking at the ceiling or the floor).

• The Drill: Try to finish your entire thought while maintaining eye contact with one person. If you need to look away to think, stop talking entirely until you look back. This forces you to synchronize your speech with your visual connection.

5. Diagnose Your Triggers

Not all "ums" are created equal. You likely use them in specific scenarios:

• The Transition: "I've finished point A, aaaah, now for point B."

• The Search: "The name of the company was, um, Global Tech."

• The Softener: Using "like" or "sort of" because you’re afraid of being too direct.

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A Quick Training Exercise

Record yourself talking for 60 seconds about a simple topic (like your favorite movie or what you did today).

1. Listen back and count the fillers.

2. Record it again, but this time, every time you want to say "ah," force yourself to tap your leg and stay silent instead.