After writing my Progress That Doesn’t Look Like Progress post, I figured that instead of spreading my attention across everything, I should try to focus on one thing to improve first, build a solid habit around it, and then move on to the next one. So eventually, I decided improving my communication skills would be a good place to start.
The reason is simple: it’s something I use every day. Unlike many other skills that require dedicated study time, communication gives me endless opportunities to practice. Whether I’m preparing for interviews, talking with friends, or explaining a technical concept, I can work on it without having to completely change my routine.
As I paid closer attention to how I speak, I noticed a few recurring habits:
- I rely on filler words more than I realized
- My voice sometimes drops at the end of a sentence, making my message less clear than intended
- I tend to ramble when explaining things, making me sound vague and uncertain about the topic even when I know exactly what I’m talking about
What surprised me was that I noticed these issues before I started looking for ways to improve them. The more I paid attention to how I speak, the more obvious those habits became.
While looking for ways to improve those habits, I started watching videos from Vinh Giang’s YouTube channel. I had seen some of his short clips on social media before, but this was the first time I actually sat down and watched them with the intention of studying communication.
What caught me off guard was discovering that many of the things I thought were unique to me were actually common challenges that many people face. Filler words, trailing off at the end of sentences, rambling, and struggling to organize thoughts while speaking weren’t unique to me at all. They were common enough that entire videos had been made about them.
In order to practice, I’ve been recording myself conducting mock interviews. Most of the recordings involve explaining my role at Fidessa or answering questions from mock interview videos. Since it’s a topic I know well and one that’s likely to come up in future interviews, it seemed like a good place to start.
One of the simplest techniques I’ve been trying is replacing filler words with a brief pause. It sounds almost too simple to make a difference, but even after practicing it for a few days, I can already notice a difference. The pauses still feel awkward while I’m speaking, but when I listen back to recordings, my answers sound much more natural and confident than when they’re filled with “um” and “ah”.
And to reduce rambling, I’ve been writing answers to some common interview questions.
Rather than memorizing responses word for word, I’ve been refining the key points I want to communicate. As long as I understand the structure and context of my answer, I can speak more naturally while staying focused on the main message.
And while speaking on camera, I’ve also noticed that I spend most of my time looking at my own image on the screen instead of looking directly at the camera lens. If I were in an in-person interview, it would make sense to look at the interviewer while speaking. But in a video call, the closest equivalent is looking at the camera. I have to say that although it sounds simple, maintaining eye contact with a camera lens is surprisingly difficult and is something I definitely need to improve on.
The recordings have been helpful, but they’ve also been humbling. The biggest takeaway from this exercise is that my struggle isn’t with English.
It’s with the delivery of my thoughts.
I’m still very early in the process, so I wouldn’t claim that a week of practice has transformed the way I communicate. If anything, it’s made me more aware of how much room there is for improvement. But identifying the problem feels like progress on its own.
For now, I plan to continue recording myself, answering mock interview questions, and learning from people who communicate well. More importantly, I want to focus on applying what I learn instead of endlessly consuming more content.
The recordings will of course remain private. Listening to them is already uncomfortable enough without sharing them publicly.
Still, I’m hoping this becomes a routine. If I can gradually grow out of my old habits, improve how I communicate, and become more confident in interviews, it’ll be time well spent.
