Katharine Becks-Peer Review for SW
rbgriff
PRforSamWashburn.docxRead the following Harvard Business Review article:
Shapira, A. (2019, August 26). Why filler words like “um” and “ah” are actually useful. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/08/why-filler-words-like-um-and-ah-are-actually-useful
This web link should be helpful.
When you send the completed project back, please save as “Sam Washburn Peer Review”
React to the author’s premise.
The article Why Filler Words Like “Um” And “Ah” Are Actually Useful by Allison Shapira gave some good feedback about filler words. It was interesting to have somebody say that filler words are okay to use. I have always been told to cut out filler words and that they were bad to use during a presentation. I also found it interesting that Shapira would critique her students when they used filler words because I had a professor who would do the same. If we were talking in class and he heard someone use the words “like” or “um”, he would call us out in front of the class for it. It was a pretty effective way for me to stop using filler words as much because I hated being called out in front of the class.
Do disfluencies during a business presentation distract you? Why or why not?
Disfluencies during a business presentation can be distracting at times. I only get distracted by disfluencies if filler words are always being used. I used to have a teacher who said the word “um” in every sentence she said. It was so distracting that we used to count the number of times she said it in a class and that is all we would pay attention to. This is the same for business presentations with me, if I hear someone saying the same filler word over and over again that is all I am going to think about.
Do you think that you use filler words when presenting? If so, how do you feel about that?
I know that I use filler words while presenting and I hate it. I know that I use them because I am nervous, presenting makes me very nervous and I use filler words while doing it. I get nervous when there is an awkward silence in a presentation because I feel like you are supposed to be talking the whole time. I know that I should pause and have a quick second of silence instead of throwing a random filler word into my sentences. The pause sounds a lot better than hearing the word “um” all the time.
Have you ever tried to overcome the problem? If so, how and do you think your presentation skills improved?
I have tried to overcome the problem of using filler words while presenting. I have cut down the amount of filler words I use in a presentation and I know that my presentations have improved from that. One thing that has helped me cut down on the amount of filler words I use is practicing my presentations ahead of time, this way I know the material better. I feel more confident when presenting if I practice before hand. Another thing I have tried to incorporate into my presentations is the pause at the end of a sentence before moving onto my next thought.
What advice would you give to somebody who reports to you if they used too many filler words?
If someone told me they used too many filler words I would tell them that they should slow down while presenting. One big cause of using filler words is from talking too fast and your mind not being able to catch up with the words coming out of your mouth. If you slow down while presenting you will have clearer thoughts and your sentences will be more formatted and you won’t feel the need to throw a filler word in it.
What would you do if your manager overused filler words? Would you mention it to that manager?
If I had a manager who overused filler words I would not say anything to them. I am at the point in my professional career where I do not have the power to speak up and mention that sort of thing to my manager. I think that if I was close to the manager then I would say something to them, but if I just started a job and did not know my manager that well then I would have a hard time mentioning that to them.
References:
Hynes, G. E., & Veltsos, J. R. (2019). Managerial communication: Strategies and applications (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Shapira, A. (2019, August 26). Why filler words like “um” and “ah” are actually useful. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/08/why-filler-words-like-um-and-ah-are-actually-useful
