Have you ever been to a fundraiser, an interview, or training and there is supposed to be this dynamic person, and you are all excited to hear her/his presentation? And, then, here it comes…all the “Umms.” You are so distracted by the “Umms,” “You Knows,” and “Yeahs,” that you couldn’t even focus on the content. This is a campaign to STOP the Umms…TODAY. I challenge you to be a leader and complete a self assessment. The next time you are in front of a group of people, whether it is a staff meeting, your family, or formal speaking engagement, ask a friend to count the number of times you say “Umm.” In our Speak Up! curriculum we teach participants, Silence is Better Than an Umm. Why? Your message will be heard.