Word Whisker Elimination

How Can You Master the Elimination of Word Whiskers?

The public speaking skill word whisker elimination can be mastered with some simple techniques.

Public speaking word whisker elimination is not promoted by everyone. Yet it can make the difference between good and great speaking.

What Are Word Whiskers

    Word whiskers are the extra little phrases like little whiskers that need to be shaved off our speech. Words like 'uh,' 'an uh,' 'now,' 'and now,' 'and then,' and 'you see.'

    These are almost unconsciously added to each sentence or phrase. It detracts from the quality of the speech and the effectiveness of the speaker.

    These are fluency killers and this is why public speaking skill word whisker elimination is essential to speechmastery.

Why We Use Word Whiskers

    First understand why we do it. Our brain is following it's programming. Actually it is a mental programming flaw telling us we must talk all the time. It is like our brain says, "If I am not talking, something must be wrong. There for I must talk, even if I have to say, 'and uh.'"

    So the very thing we are programmed to do, be fluent, ends up being the cause of losing the smooth flow of thought within our public speaking.

Solution

    Solution: first you have to want to change. Get a count of which word whisker you use and how many times (This is where neuro-lingusitic programming shines.)

    Write the word on top of your notes. Circle and put a diagonal cross line through it.

    Slow down in your speaking, when needing to say, ‘and uh,’ you pause.

    The second two of the above exercises are mental. They are to condition you and reprogram you to replace them with something else. The circle with the universal NO sign is a visual reminder to help reprogram your brain.

    The slowing down and or using pausing, will effectively help you replace the uh's, and uh, and other whiskers with a pause. Just pause and breathe when you find your self wanting to move on to the next thought.

    Mastering public speaking word whisker elimination is a part of fluency. Mastering fluency is a process that is 80% mental and 20% physical.

    It is physical in that we use muscles of our mouth, face, throat and diaphragm. They too need to be reprogrammed for fluency. That programming comes automatically with the mental programming.

    Another way to accomplish this is within your mind imagine your self coming up to the point where you need to formulate the next thought.

    Picture or imagine yourself pause. Picture your audience having the moment to process what you just said. You, just breathe. Doing it for real or in your imagination is the beginning of the process to reprogram your brain. Picture yourself being programmed to be fluent.

And Now, And Now, And Now

    What if you need to reprogram the expression 'NOW.' Different from 'uh,' the expression ‘Now’ at the end of a sentence or phrase is much harder to change. In this case, rather than fill in blank spaces between thoughts like "and uh," the use of "now" often happens at transitions. The same process can work.

    Conscious effort to rewrite the programming of the brain is what’s required. The brain needs to be reprogrammed for fluent speech.

    One way to re-write the programming is the using the Benny Goodman technique. Benny Goodman practiced playing the clarinet 6-8 hours each day. He even practiced when he didn’t have an instrument in his hands. He practiced mentally.

    Practice mentally giving your lecture. Picture or imagine yourself coming to the end of the phrase or sentence and when you stop, the transition will be a pause where a deep breath is taken.

    That pause and deep breath can replace any mistake you make when practicing. Simply stop, rewind the script in your mind, and play it back. The only thing, that code in your brain needs to be read as pause, deep breath.

    The pause and deep breath does something for the brain. It makes it feel good. More importantly, it will help you master the ability to speak fluently.

    Master word whisker elimination to master public speaking. You can.

Go Back to the Speaking Skills List

Speechmastery.com: The Word Whisker Elimination Website

Lets Connect View Jonathan Steele RN Holistic Nurse's profile on LinkedIn
Lets Connect View Jonathan Steele RN Holistic Nurse's profile on LinkedIn
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