How to Start Speaking Clearly and Confidently
Speaking clearly and convincingly is important not only in speeches or project defenses. Any conversation, such as confessing love, discussing plans, or chatting in a store, requires your words to be understood and effective.
Good and beautiful speech is often the key to being understood. Here are some ways to improve your speaking skills.
How to spot unnecessary words in your speech Extra words in your speech usually serve a purpose. Here's how to find them and understand why they are there:
Record a two-minute story about any topic, like your weekend plans or a chat with a friend.
Listen carefully and make note of words or sounds you repeat often. These aren't always the typical filler words like “like” or “you know.”
Write down a few synonyms or opposite words for each common phrase or word.
Practice replacing filler words with these alternatives. For example, instead of “like,” try “sort of” or “kind of.” Instead of “damn,” say “that’s a shame.” Instead of “in short,” say “to sum up” or “basically.”
You can even put sticky notes with these replacements in visible places.
Ask yourself honestly why you say these words. Do they fill a pause while searching for the right words?
Do you use them when nervous or unsure? Most of us say them unconsciously, but understanding why helps you find better ways to stop using them.
Modern talk is full of clichés, slang, and new words from different fields. That makes it easy to pick up unnecessary speech filler. But you can stop doing that. Here’s how.
Most often, these words come out automatically. Try these tips:
Ask friends or colleagues to correct you. They will notice your mistakes more clearly.
Create a small penalty for using fillers. Skip dessert, a movie, or a shopping trip—just make it fair.
Put a rubber band around your wrist. Snap it every time you catch yourself using a filler word. This will annoy you and help train your brain to avoid these words.
Choose a common phrase you tend to repeat, like “in short,” and say it loudly and often. Use it at least five times in a short talk. For instance, “In short, there’s a webinar tomorrow about speaking well. In short, I should go!”
It sounds funny, but it really works. Hearing that phrase too often makes you notice it. Soon, controlling your speech becomes easier.
Take breaks It may seem like silence means you have nothing to say. Actually, pauses are powerful tools. They grab attention and make others listen. Pauses give your listener a chance to digest what you just said.
If you fill pauses with “um” or “like,” interest quickly drops. Practice using pauses intentionally. They help you speak more clearly and confidently.