How might we...
- Communication: How might we improve our communication internally and externally?
- How might I communicate more effectively?
- How might I stop saying "um" when I speak?
- How might I communicate more effectively?
Hypothesis
If my peers throw paper at me whenever I say, “umm,” I will eventually stop saying “umm” so much.
Design
At the beginning of our day-long meeting, ask everyone to make a paper airplane or crumple up paper, and throw it at me throughout the meeting every time I say, “umm.”
Metrics
Measure the number of times people throw paper at me in the morning and the afternoon. Compare the two results.
Learnings
- Simply having the group accountability made me more self-aware about what I was saying, including other fillers I often use
- I also became much more aware of when others used fillers
- Light, fun feedback really helped, and it also helped lighten the meeting overall. Mark’s virtual feedback and celebratory sign especially made me laugh
- Slowing down my speech was the most effective way for me to avoid using fillers, and I think it makes me a more effective speaker / communicator overall
Decisions
I want to make reducing my filler usage an overall priority. Replicate this experiment as often as possible — it’s light, and I can do it in both professional and personal situations.