Day #27: Pause > "Right?"

Welcome to Day 27 of the 30-Day Say It Skillfully Challenge! Today focuses on an immediate difference in how you come across: removing filler words and using the power of the pause. And yes...my word is "right?" (We all have one.) 

Filler words aren't "bad." They're usually a sign your brain is moving fast and your mouth is trying to keep up. But when they stack up –like, um, you know, right?–your message can lose strength. Pausing, on the other hand, communicates calm and confidence without adding a single extra word. It gives your listener space to absorb what matters, and it give you a moment to choose your next words with intention.

Today's Challenge: In a meeting, presentation, or even a casual conversation, record yourself speaking. Then, listen back. 
Yes, it might be painful, but that's the point. Notice your habits: where filler words appear, where you rush, where you trail off, where you don't breathe. Then, in your next interaction, replace your filler words with a pause. One beat. One breath. No apology. Simply pause and continue. 

At the end of the day, reflect on what changed when you paused instead of rambled to fill space. What did you notice about how you communicate under pressure?  

Cheering for you to make the most of this 30-day challenge–whether you're recommitting to a resolution, trying something new, or simply choosing to turn over a fresh leaf this year. One small step today can change how you show up all year long. You've got this!