How to be better than Ron DeSantis at public speaking

Ah, well, so, is it easy?

(Image via CNN and foxnews.com)

Over the weekend future President Ron DeSantis had a conversation with a CNN “reporter”. Many people have focused on the liberal slant of the CNN reporter’s question, as well as Heavy D being well versed in the facts.

What did I notice? He has a filler word problem. Filler words stab my ears like gendered bathrooms cause groomers to shriek in horror.

Filler words are ahs, and, um, so, and almost any word or phrase that starts a sentence that should not start a sentence. Why do people use filler words? To fill space that should be used for pauses and taking a breath. Um and so add nothing to the conversation. Great speakers pause and breathe. Pausing and breathing shows power. No need to speak quickly when you own the room.

President 47 used at least EIGHT (!!!) different filler words. My ears started to bleed after the tenth use.

Here’s the clip:

Brutal. Most beginner Toastmasters have ten plus filler words in one to two minutes. I expect more from a Presidential Candidate.

How can you become better than Heavy D at public speaking? Two exercises:

First - listen for people using filler words. Count them and keep track.

Second - pay attention to your own use of filler words. Catch yourself and pause mid word. The more you listen to others, the more you will hear them in yourself.

Pausing is powerful. I wrote about it before. Use breath, pauses, and your awareness to eliminate filler words. You may not be as tan or hair sprayed as Ron DeSantis, but people can enjoy your verbosity more than his by limiting and trying to eliminate filler words.