Tailgating Quote by Bill McGowan
““The No-Tailgating Principle The speed with which you talk should be directly proportional to how certain you are about the next sentence coming out of your mouth. The more certain you are, the more briskly you can choose to speak. But if you’re prone to saying the first thing that pops into your head, a slower pace with strategic pausing is a sure way to prevent your mouth from tailgating your brain. And as with automobiles, when the lead car stops short from uncertainty of where to go next, it’s likely that the tailgater trailing behind will crash into the one in front. The verbal equivalent of a crash is filler: like, um, you know, etc. And et cetera, for that matter.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Communication Workshop, Bill McGowan, 2019
Speak at a pace that matches your confidence; slower, deliberate speech prevents filler and mental overload.
In simple terms: Match speech speed to certainty to avoid filler.
Key Takeaway
Adjust tempo to confidence.
Themes
communication
confidence
mindfulness
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advice
instructional
When to use this quote
- presentations
- team meetings
- interviews
- public speaking
Key Concepts
cognitive load
speech pacing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you gauge confidence before speaking?
- What techniques help maintain pace?
A Different Perspective
If confidence is low, slowing may still produce filler without practice.
