So-so Speaking

A few years ago, while watching a sitcom, I made an unusual observation. I noticed that the “Thirtysomething” characters would start a conversation saying something like this: “So, I was standing in line at the coffee shop the other day.” It struck me that the writers had to write that word, “so” into the script, and that they did so because that is the way young people speak informally with each other. It was a curiosity at that point.

But then I noticed that when students presented cases to me in the academic medicine setting, they too would begin virtually every new thought with the word “so.” For example: “So … patient John Doe presents with ...” They looked at me oddly when I pointed out to them this unintentional habit and encouraged them to try to avoid using it when presenting their cases in any professional setting. The result? You would think I asked them to run a race with their legs tied together. It was as if they could not speak without it.

I tried to shrug it off telling myself: “They’re just kids; they will grow out of it.”

But then I noticed that residents, when giving talks or presenting cases before an audience, did the same thing. Even when taking questions after their presentations, they would begin their answers saying, “so.” I began to get a little concerned. But again, I told myself “there’s still time before they become attendings and academic physicians.”

It was then I came to the realization that even in academic medicine, even the most profound and prolific movers and shakers of every specialty begin nearly every new thought with the word “so.” Almost without fail, the first word out of nearly every presenter I hear is the word “so,” as if the entire talk is meant to be one long, run-on sentence.

I recently read a blog on the subject. The author pointed out that “in conversation, most people use what are called filler words like these, also referred to as ‘crutch’ words. Excessive use of these words, however, can make whatever point we’re trying to get across sound less important or meaningful, and may even tune your listeners out” (Brian Tracy International [www.briantracy.com/blog/ public-speaking/ how-to-stop-using-filler-words/ ]). I could not agree more. In fact, now that I am aware of the trend, it distracts me continuously.

No, we are not professional orators, but we are professionals, and it is my strongly held position that we should sound like learned professionals and not hipsters on a sitcom television show.

Challenge: The next time you attend an official medical “talk” of any kind, jot down a hash mark every time the speaker begins a new thought or answers a question starting by saying the word “so.”

It is time to stop settling for “so-so” public speaking. It has no place in professionalism.

Dr. Herndon is the chief of surgery at Laurens County Hospital, in Clinton, S.C.