Where do your verbal tics come from... and how can you eliminate them during an interview?

Start by relaxing: everyone has verbal tics. If your colleague annoys you by starting their sentences with "so..." you're probably getting on their nerves by constantly responding with "I guess" instead of "yes" or "I see".  

But how do we get like this? Through imitation. This is what Richard Huyghe, professor of French linguistics at the University of Fribourg, explains: "One of the essential objectives of language is to cooperate with your interlocutor. This desire to cooperate involves a form of empathy and imitation. These tics [...] help us create a common code." Verbal tics therefore respond to a strong need for sociability, similarity and belonging, as Julie Neveux, linguist and playwright, explains.

The second part of the answer is rhythm. According to Richard Huyghe, "What we identify as verbal tics are also words that have the function of rhythm in the exchange. They allow you to initiate, punctuate, restart and also express approval". Think of "anyway," "you know," "there you go," and other such phrases. We all do it, and all too often. Using research that integrates behavioural science, AI and data, the platform Quantified Communications has determined that the optimal frequency is around one "filler word" per minute. However, we use them on average five times more often. 

Use with moderation 

With your loved ones and friends, verbal tics aren't really a problem. But in the professional sphere, it's another story. They have only one advantage, highlighted by Noah Zandan, CEO and co-founder of Quantified Communications: giving us a moment to gather our thoughts before continuing. That's the plus side. But the list of negatives is long: loss of credibility, difficulty in following your argument, risk of being put in a box... In short: you'll have to manage without them, at least in answers to interview questions. We explain how to prepare for interview, in four points:  

1. Silence is your friend. You can replace all your "crutch" words with pauses. Noah Zandan is clear: if, when you speak, even the slightest silence seems to stretch on forever, it's actually nowhere near as long as you think. And he has the figures to prove it: according to his research, the average professional speaks at a rate of 150 words per minute. Yet we think at 400 words per minute (and depending on who you ask, sometimes up to 1,500 words per minute). When you speak in public, your perception of time is distorted, and what seems like an eternity in your mind is actually only a few short seconds for the audience. Well-placed pauses are an opportunity to gather your thoughts, calm down and appear confident.  
2. You need to slow down. When we're nervous, we tend to stutter, go off on tangents or speak too quickly. In any case, it limits our ability to think, to express a coherent message, and increases the risk of using filler words. "So, practise speaking at a slow pace", advise Douglas R. Seals and McKinley E. Coppock, American researchers in integrative physiology (it's a real thing, we checked on the Internet). Remember the golden number: 150 words a minute. No more, no less! 
3. Avoid certain expressions. The misuse of certain words may irritate an interlocutor who uses a more "classic" vocabulary. One piece of advice: once you've entered the interview room, forget about expressions that you may use all day long, such as "so" or "like", which are about as appealing as finding a fly in your soup. Also, avoid using phrases like "I think". This gives the impression that you're not an expert on the subject. Instead, use phrases that validate your knowledge, such as: "in my experience" or "from what I've read on the subject".  
4. Practise. Since job interviews always carry with them a element of anxiety, the best thing is to prepare well practising answering common interview questions. You can, for example, film yourself alone or simulate a job interview with a friend or family member. By watching yourself, you'll quickly become aware of your filler words and weaknesses for interview and be able to correct them better. This will allow you to express yourself professionally without having to force your speech: even though you're in an interview, it's important to come across as natural and authentic. This is what will allow you to feel if you have a genuine connection with your interviewer and the company.