The Ah-Counter
How will you profit from being the Ah-Counter?
You can get at least three things out of being the Ah-Counter.
- Give a prepared mini speech and an impromptu speech.
- Become more aware of your own speaking patterns, and
- Practice giving bad news. It is no fun to tell other members they used 40 Ahs in five minutes. But if you are ever going to achieve a leadership position, you will have to provide feedback on sub-par performances. Start practicing now and learn to do it in a good way.
- Get over your fear to interrupt someone, if you are asked to ring the bell.
Why do we use the Ah-Counter?
Toastmasters International defines the purpose of the Ah-Counter as follows: “The purpose of the Ah-Counter is to note any overused words or filler sounds used as a crutch by anyone who speaks during the meeting. Words may be inappropriate interjections, such as and, well, but, so and you know. Sounds may be ah, um or er”
The Ah-Counter helps us to improve our ability to listen to ourselves and to really take notice of how we are saying the things we are saying. You could also keep track of annoying habits like lip-smacking.
How To
When introduced by the Toastmaster of the Evening, you have no more than one minute to explain the role and what you will do to help us get rid of verbal crutches.
This is a mini speech. Try to be ambitious and wow us with your description. That could be achieved by using a quote, presenting a fitting metaphor or anything else that will amaze or entertain us.
If you have been asked to use the bell, please explain how you will use the bell to assist people to take note of their verbal and paraverbal crutches and disadvantageous patterns.
At the end of the evening, please give a full report for each participant within 2 minutes. That is not an easy feat. You can find a form that will help you to track filler words here.
Do not forget to shake hands every time you enter or leave the stage.
How to make use of the bell
Members can ask you to use the bell when they speak.* Only then should ring the bell each time you notice a filler word or anything else you find disturbs your listening. Do not, however, ring the bell more than three times.
Ringing the bell is not an easy feat. Once you master it, interrupting others when necessary or claiming your speaking time when challenged will become much easier.
Do not use the bell with guests or for Icebreakers.
PS
Feedback helps us all grow. If you want feedback on your performance as the Ah-Counter, give the PDF “Feedback for the Ah-Counter” to another club member to evaluate you. Or tell another member upfront that you would like their feedback after the meeting.
*Personally (Friederike) for me, the bell has done two things:
a) I have become extremely resilient against interruptions and disturbances
b) It helps me to notice and clean my speaking of bad habits much faster. I wish I had an Ah-Counter-Bell with me at all times.
Now that you know how to do it, put the plan into action, or pick another role: