The Filler Word Problem (and how to eliminate)

Ahmed Dino

Oct '25 • 💭 | General Discussions

The previous challenge got great response, it’s good to see that people are taking action instead of just consuming.

Now this takes me to Challenge 2.

For that…

Let me ask you something - have you ever recorded yourself speaking and then cringed when you played it back?

Chances are, it wasn't what you said that made you cringe.

It was how you said it.

Because here's the brutal truth about filler words:

Every time you say "um," "uh," "like," or "you know," you're telling the listener that you're not prepared, not confident, and not worth taking seriously.

I know that sounds harsh, but think about it.

When someone is constantly saying "um" during a presentation or "like" every other word in a conversation, what's your first impression?

EXACTLY.

But here’s why this matters more than you think:

Filler words don't just make you sound unprepared - they actually make you think less clearly.

Your brain gets lazy because it knows it can just throw in an "um" whenever it needs time to think.

But when you eliminate filler words, something incredible happens...

You start thinking more precisely. You start speaking with intention.

And most importantly… people start listening to you with more attention.

“But how can I solve this?”

Introducing…

The Complete Filler Word Elimination System:

Step 1: Awareness Phase

For the next 3 days, I want you to become hyper-aware of your filler words. Don't try to stop them yet, just notice them. Ask a friend to count them during one 5-minute conversation.

Step 2: The Pause Method (refer to lesson 1)

Instead of saying "um"... pause. Silence feels longer to you than to the listener. A 2-second pause makes you sound thoughtful, not stupid.

Step 3: Slow Down

Most filler words happen because we're trying to talk faster than we can think. Slow down your speech by 20%. Give your brain time to catch up.

Step 4: Practice Out Loud

Record yourself having a conversation or giving a presentation. Listen back and count the filler words. Do this daily for two weeks, and you’ll be shocked on how fast you improved.

Here’s the best part now😎

Your Challenge For This Week:

Record a 2-minute video of yourself talking about any topic. Count your filler words.

Post the number below, you don't have to share the video (that’s for future), just the count.

Then, practice the pause method for 3 days and record another 2-minute video.

Compare the numbers.

I want to see those before and after numbers in the comments.

This is how we track real progress.

Let's go

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