In grad school I took a class very similar to toasters, you picked out a piece of paper from the professors bag and whatever the business topic you pulled, you had 5 minutes to prep a speech and present it to the class. It was a course meant to prepare you for unexpected public speaking on any subject and its delivery. This was one of the most hated classes for a lot of students given the high rate of people who suffer from glossophobia. My fellow classmates weren’t alone, seventy four percent of Americans strongly dislike having to speak in public, even if its in front of people they know according to the National Institute of Mental Health’s last study conducted in 2012. Fear of speaking in public ranks higher than the fear of death! Here’s the kicker, I love it. I enjoy giving speeches and getting that sick feeling in your stomach. I get extremely hot and perspire uncontrollably. My body quivers and I feel as if I won’t be able to say a word, but once I start I get a high only public speaking can give. 

OK, so what, I like public speaking and chances are you probably don’t. Big deal. So here is where the haunting begins. As you gave your speech, someone in the class was given the task to count all your crutches ( your umm, ahh, uhh, you know, like, long pauses, etc. ), the verbal fillers most of us use in every day speech. Most people use them so much they don’t even realize it, unless they are actively listening for them. For every verbal crutch used, you lost points during your speech so even if your content was great, your crutches could very well fail you. The professor did such a great job at breaking down your speech and resetting your habits, most students finished the course being haunted, like me. 

Every time I hear someone speak I can’t help but count the amount of times they use verbal crutches and it drives me insane. I want to tell them to stop using the words they use excessively. My listening is skewed and while it will seem as though I am actively listening, I am simply hearing you speak and listening for your crutches. I use verbal crutches too but its like an off and on button with my speech. I can’t simply speak or listen anymore.

I’m a lost cause. I won’t be cured of this but I’m hoping to give you a glimpse, even if it drives you insane just for one day. Listen to everyone speak and you will hear them so clearly. Listen to yourself and you will be shocked at how much you use them too and how you probably never even noticed. In a weird way, it can be fun, like fruit ninja, do it when you’re bored.