30/06/2026
How to Avoid Filler Words When You Speak
“Alam ko yung sasabihin ko… pero pag ako na magsasalita, puro ‘uhm,’ ‘parang,’ at ‘ano’ nalang lumalabas.”
I think one of the hidden frustrations of struggling with filler words is that people start focusing more on how they sound than on what they’re actually trying to say. You become hyperaware of every pause, every “uhm,” every moment of silence, and suddenly speaking starts feeling mentally exhausting instead of natural.
And over time, that pressure affects more than just presentations. Some people start overexplaining in meetings, panicking during recitations, rushing through interviews, or avoiding speaking situations altogether because they’re scared of sounding unsure or unprepared.
I understand this deeply because I used to struggle with the exact same thing.
Back in college, I would say “uhm” almost every time I got called in class. During interviews and presentations, I rambled because I thought silence automatically meant I looked incompetent. I felt pressured to answer immediately, even when my brain was still trying to organize my thoughts.
Fast forward, I became a TEDx speaker and eventually spoke internationally for International, one of the world’s largest public speaking organizations. And one of the biggest things I learned is that filler words are usually not just “confidence problems.” Most of the time, they happen because your brain is still searching for structure while you’re already talking.
One technique that helped me reduce filler words is learning how to organize thoughts before speaking.
One of the biggest things I learned is this:
Filler words usually increase when your brain has no structure to follow.
That’s why one small technique that helps is organizing your thoughts BEFORE you start speaking.
One framework I personally use is AIDA:
🤎 Attention – Start with your main point first.
🤎 Interest – Explain why it matters.
🤎 Desire – Show the value or impact.
🤎 Action – End with the next step or takeaway.
Even this simple structure already reduces mental panic because your brain stops searching randomly for what to say next.
A lot of Filipinos watch speaking tips online and think, “Okay gets ko na.” But the moment pressure enters the room, they still freeze or fall back into filler words because understanding communication is different from performing communication under pressure.
Real speaking confidence is built through repetition, guided practice, and structured thinking systems your brain can rely on during stressful moments.
That's one of the reasons I created the Think Fast, Speak On The Spot Workbook.
Not to help you memorize scripts. Not to turn you into a different person.
But to help you organize your thoughts under pressure so your ideas come across the way you intended. Because thinking fast isn't about having better ideas.
It's about helping other people understand the ideas you already have.
🤎 Think Fast, Speak On The Spot Workbook
Get the Workbook + Live Webinar for only ₱799 during our pre-selling period.
If you've ever left a conversation thinking, "That sounded much better in my head," this workbook was designed for you.
Grab your copy here: https://forms.gle/Sro45mW5GpaiZ7et8 🤎
PS. We're only 35 copies away from unlocking a free course giveaway for everyone who grabs the workbook. 🤎
