A great little note from Dave Jackson, the personal podcast coach, about how to avoid those awkward ums, uhs, and other accidental filler words that may slip into your podcasts.
Do you remember those times when you parent caught you doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing? They might say something like (insert your full name – including your middle name) WHAT ARE YOU DOING? The answer probably started with:
A) I’m, I’m uh,.. or
B) Uuuuuuh….
C Me? No, nothing, I mean..
Stammer, stammer, stammer. You were unprepared, and didn’t know what to say next.
Talking in public is the #1 fear of humans. People would rather stand naked in public, then stand completely clothed and talk in public. Consequently that may be the reason you’re stammering into a microphone.
However, in my travels, I think it is a lack of preparation. When I go back and listen to podcasts with a ton of “uhhh’s or “ya know’s” it because I was trying to do something off the top of my head with NO IDEA of where I was going.
So let me clarify. I’m not saying write down everything you’re going to say. There is nothing more boring than listening to someone read a Podcast. What I mean is have some notes of what you want to say. You could have an outline, or bullet points. Especially if you have a co-host. This way if get off topic, you have a list of topics to keep you on target.
The reason you are typically saying “Ummm” is you are uncomfortable with a blank space. The silence seems awkward. So while you figure out to say next, you throw in a “aaaannnnnnddddd.”
We get excited about Podcasting. We want to tell our listeners something new and fun, so we turn on the mic before we create a roadmap of where we are going to go, and consequently we go all over the place leaving the listener to sit through a bunch of “ummm,, ummmm,, just a sec….. ummmm”.
Take the few minutes it takes to plan your show. Then fire up the computer and microphone.
Dave Jackson Personal Podcast Coach School of Podcasting www.schoolofpodcasting.com