The “Um” Factor
Um…this is what I like to call those interesting, awkward things we do when we speak in front of a group. Whether we are like preaching, speaking in a Sunday school class, or leading a training session, we all have what I call “The ‘Um’ Factor”.
So maybe you don’t say, “Um” during pauses. Perhaps, you say, “So…”, “Anway”, “Like”, “Okay”, or my favorite, “So…anyway…” Maybe you don’t say anything; instead you smack your lips, click your tongue, play with your hair, rub your hands, or look around/down when you talk. Some of us, like me, have particular words that we say as our “Um Factor”. One of mine, in fact, is that word “particular”! I say it without even meaning to say it.
Most of us have this “Um Factor.” What’s yours? How do you work on it?
Vanessa Marie Ellison
Date posted: Friday, July 25th, 2008 10:38 am | Under category: Uncategorized, personal growth, sermons
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Thanks, Vanessa. When I preached my first sermon at my home church (during my first year in college) my brother and a cousin each presented me with a piece of paper. It was a tick list where they marked each time I said, “Um”. Yikes!
The current word-I-wish-people-would-stop-using that is a replacement for “Um,” is “Absolutely.” It seems every question is answered with, or every other sentence begins with, “Absolutely,”
I haven’t heard that one before. I’ll have to listen for it. I found myself also saying “Well….” It is interesting how our “um factor” can also change.
Funny topic Vanessa. Nothing distracts me more when someone is speaking than the number of times they say “umm” or “uhh.” Some of the children in my congregation were recently telling me about a 4th grade teacher at their school that won’t allow the word “umm” in her classroom. If a child says it in class, she makes them stop and begin their entire thought over again!
I skip the one word pauses and instead say an entire phrase. “Does that make any sense to you? or “Am I making sense?” I’m thinking about trying shock treatment to cure me:)