Throughout high school and college, my parents and teachers often told me to “stop saying like!” I noticed I wasn’t alone, and my peers constantly overused filler words too. Words like “um,” “like,” and “you know” have crept into our conversations and presentations, subtly undermining the clarity and impact of our communication. I knew others would judge me because even with my efforts to eliminate “like” from my speech, it still bothered me when I encountered people who used the word excessively. Women, especially, are judged more harshly for overusing filler words in professional and academic settings.

I wanted to find a solution to this problem that affected my peers and me, without relying on others to remind me to stop saying ‘like.’ This awareness-based training seemed like the only way for someone to break the filler word habit. 

I looked for products that could help make me aware, but every program for tracking filler word usage was either a desktop software product that only worked in Zoom meetings or something that would listen to a presentation or speech and provide you feedback after it was over. That’s when I started looking into the capabilities of my iPhone and Apple Watch to listen to me speak and alert me when I used a filler word.

I decided to create Credible, a mobile app that helps users become aware of their filler words through haptic feedback. As someone who has struggled to overcome this habit, I recognize that eliminating filler words is a gradual process. Credible immediately notifies you when you use a chosen filler word, making you more aware of your speech patterns to make real-time adjustments. These adjustments allow you to improve over time and enhance your professional demeanor during conversations.

At Credible, our mission is straightforward: we aspire for individuals to be evaluated solely based on the substance of their thoughts, unhindered by filler words like “um” and “like.” Communication is the #1 most important career skill, and in a competitive job market for young professionals, speaking clearly and confidently can make or break a job interview, internship, or promotion. We firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to communicate effectively, with clarity and confidence, allowing them to reach their full professional potential. Our ultimate goal is to create a level playing field, where people are assessed based on the strength and quality of their ideas rather than the frequency of their filler word usage.