Okay, so a couple of days ago, I decided to dive into this “t pual” thing. I’d heard a bit about it here and there, mostly folks saying it can really boost your public speaking skills. And let me tell you, my presentations at work have been, well, let’s just say they could use some improvement. So, I figured, why not give it a shot?
First off, I spent some time just reading up on what “t pual” actually is. Turns out, it’s not some magic formula but more like a set of practical tips and tricks. Mostly about improving my speaking skills. Seemed simple enough, right?
The first thing I tried was focusing on the topic of my speech. I used to just pick whatever I thought the audience wanted to hear, but this time, I went with something I’m actually passionate about. For me, that’s old-school video games. I know, it might sound silly, but I can talk about that stuff for hours.
Then, I worked on my delivery. One big tip was to practice in front of a mirror. At first, I felt ridiculous talking to myself, but it actually helped. I started noticing little things, like how I tend to fidget or avoid eye contact. It was a bit painful to watch, honestly, but super helpful.
I also tried recording myself. Hearing your own voice can be cringy, but it’s a game-changer. I realized I say “um” and “like” way too much. So, I started practicing pausing instead of filling the silence with those filler words. It felt awkward at first, but it made a huge difference in how I sounded.
Another thing I did was to try and simplify my language. I used to think using big words made me sound smarter, but it just ended up confusing people. So, I made a conscious effort to use everyday language. I even ran my speech by a friend who knows nothing about video games to make sure it made sense to someone outside my little bubble.
- Focus on a topic you love.
- Practice in front of a mirror.
- Record yourself and listen back.
- Cut out the filler words.
- Keep your language simple.
Finally, the day of the presentation came. I won’t lie, I was still nervous, but I felt way more prepared than usual. I stood up there, took a deep breath, and started talking about my favorite retro games. And you know what? It went pretty well! I didn’t stumble over my words, I kept it simple, and I even got a few laughs.
I’m not saying I’m suddenly the best public speaker in the world, but this “t pual” stuff definitely helped me level up. It’s all about putting in the work and practicing. It can be tough and sometimes embarrassing, but it’s totally worth it. If I can do it, anyone can.
So, if you’re looking to improve your public speaking skills, I highly recommend giving these simple tips a try. It might just change the way you present yourself to the world.
