Avoid these 5 types of words and phrases that make you sound ‘immature,’ says speech expert
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People judge your speech just as harshly as you do for what you do. for what you say.
Brilliant and hard-working as you may be, if your way of speaking comes across as immature or all over the place, then people — especially your bosses and co-workers — will probably have a hard time taking you seriously.
It is also known as public speaking coachTo earn respect and credibility, it is important to communicate clearly, concisely, and informingly. You can begin by not using these words or phrases.
1. You already have facts in your slide deck
Examples:
- This slide shows that we made $3 million this year.
- “As can be seen, we had 10 clients by 2020, and then 14 by 2021,”
- Slide nine shows a comparison of our features to those offered by other players in the space.
- “Our team has extensive industry experience as can be seen from the slide showing our seven principle principles. Their names will I read aloud!”
You will lose authority if you speak from slides and waste everyone’s time.
Visuals make it easy to show and reinforce your points. You have one job as a speaker: to bring value. Do not tell the audience what they know. You can talk about how the slide deck information is useful, good or bad.
2. Asides
Examples:
- “This research was finicky just like my mother in law.”
- This data was difficult to find for several weeks. This was because the vendor had switched IT personnel.
- “Sorry. The deck is in chaos. It’s been a busy travel season.
- So, my first source of inspiration was a fellow student at business school.
If you distract attention and turn meetings into a show-and-tell or stand-up session, it can make you appear incompetent, selfish, or self-centered. Staying on-topic in professional situations is key to being intelligent.
3. Filler words
Examples:
- “Ahhh”
- “Uhhh”
- “You know?”
- “Like, … “
When we pause to think about the next words, it is easy for us to fall back onto filler words. Although you can’t fault the occasional “umm” and “so”, it’s okay to be a little bit distracted by the fact that not every word requires the same amount of attention. Eliminating fillers will make you more articulate and focused.
4. Business jargon
Examples:
- “Circle back”
- “Bandwidth”
- “Low-hanging fruit”
- “Synergy”
You won’t look more smart if you use “utilize” rather than “use”. The business language adds weight to your speech, but not the gravity. And more often, it confuses — or inadvertently amuses — your audience. Use plain language to express what you mean.
5. Hedging words
Examples:
- “Kind of”
- “Sort of”
- “I guess”
- “Just”
To appear reasonable and approachable, we use hedging words. These goals are lovely, but when time is money, extra words aren’t kind or pleasing — they’re distracting. Clear communication is what shows respect. Do not be afraid to speak up: Your audience will value you for what you have.
John Bowe is a speech trainer, award-winning journalist, and author of “I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection.” He has contributed to The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, GQ, McSweeney’s, This American Life, and many others. His website is available. here.
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