The minute we speak - others judge us. It may be unfair – but it happens!

We all are familiar with the “ negative” speech habits we hate to hear. It’s like hearing nails on a chalkboard – too many “um’s,” using an “up” tone, talking too fast, high pitched breathiness – to name a few. While people of all genders can have these negative habits, some tend to affect women more.

From my experience, women can also be judged harshly for how they speak - especially in the corporate world. So what speaking habits should women be aware of and aim to avoid?

It can be difficult to speak up confidently when you naturally have a shy personality. However, with practice and taking (small) risks , you can improve your communication skills and become more comfortable expressing yourself to others. Here are some tips to help you communicate better and overcome shyness.

The key to successfully answering “Tell me about yourself” at a job interview, is to plan ahead. This sounds simple enough - you know yourself best. But this shouldn't be an off the cuff response. You don't want to meander or tell your entire life story! So what is the best way to answer?

Repetitive, negative speech habits can be grating or annoying to your listener. But the positive news is that you can get rid of them. You can improve. You can speak better.

But where do you start?

First, you must identify YOUR bad speaking habits. Be honest with yourself. If you’re really open to it, ask a trusted friend or colleague if you have any of these 5 bad speaking habits.

Going for a job interview? Give me a call. I'm here to help you be successful in virtual job interviews.