The Um-Counter Game - Corporate Edition.

The Um-counter is a simple way to help people learn to speak better while in public. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

People who excessively "um" are showing their lack of knowledge on a topic or worse, their inability to put a sentence together. We all have "um" or "errr" moments. It is when they become excessive (think Press Secretary Gibbs), that they can be made more fun than annoying.

What you will need for the game:
1. A notepad
2. A pencil
3. A corporate meeting or Gibb's press conference

Write all speaker's names down on the notepad including your own, if applicable. Every time a person says an "um" or "errrr", give them a line (I usually do it in sets of five, so four lines and a cross line work great.). If someone is doing most/all of the talking, put a time gauge on the paper. This will be the um per minute counter.

At the end of the meeting, when the moderator asks, "Anymore questions?", blunty exclaim, "No, but I have the um-counter. John um'd twice, Jenn um'd once and the person who showed their ignorance most was, Steve with a whopping five ums per minute.

With any luck, you'll get the "Steve" in your company to stop having meetings or to shut up all together, but most likely, he's some arrogant jerk who likes to hear himself talk. Either way, good luck.

If you happen to be the one doing all of the um-ing, read up on the topic before the next meeting or just shut up.