🎤 Want to Communicate Better? Start by Watching Yourself (Without Judgment)
Hello Hello!
This is a fascinating topic for me because it’s helped me tremendously over the past 15 years of my career.
Recording myself has truly changed my life. I still remember the very first video podcast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPUunWBVyWE) I recorded almost 15 years ago — and yes, don’t laugh! I still cringe a little when I watch it today.
But here’s the thing: getting over the awkwardness of hearing myself opened so many doors. It allowed me to build a business, create podcasts, speak at conferences, and even land a job as a college professor.
These days, I’m no longer doing some of those things anymore, but recording is still part of my life. At least once a week, I hit record on my phone and make a short video journal. I talk about what’s going on in my life — doubts, conflicts, insecurities — and it helps me in two big ways:
1️⃣ I keep practicing how I express myself.
2️⃣ I process my thoughts and emotions through self-discovery.
What I want to share with you today is that there are many ways to improve your communication skills. Recording yourself is one of the most powerful — and that’s what we’re diving into in this newsletter.
Enjoy,
— Aderson
🎤 Want to Communicate Better? Start by Watching Yourself (Without Judgment)
Have you ever listened to yourself on a recording and cringed? “Do I really sound like that?” Yeah — we’ve all been there.
But here’s the truth most people miss: The people you think “communicate naturally” have likely done a lot of behind-the-scenes practice — including watching and listening to themselves.
One of the fastest ways to improve how you communicate isn’t just to speak more. It’s to record yourself and watch kindly.
3 Ways Recording Yourself Builds Communication Confidence
📱 See What You Actually Sound Like (Not What You Fear)
👀 Spot Small Wins You’re Overlooking
🛠️ Identify One Tiny Tweak to Practice
📱 See What You Actually Sound Like (Not What You Fear)
In your head, you hear every filler word, every pause, every “uhh...” like a giant flashing sign. But when you watch yourself on video?
You realize most of it... isn’t a big deal.
Recording yourself gives you an objective view. What feels awkward inside often looks and sounds just fine outside.
Instead of trusting the noisy critic in your head, you’re working with real data.
Pro tip: Don’t watch it 10 times looking for mistakes. Watch once, as if you were watching a friend. Notice how much is already working.
👀 Spot Small Wins You’re Overlooking
Most people only notice what went wrong when they communicate.
But when you watch yourself back, you can catch:
Moments where you explained something really clearly
A natural smile you didn’t know you showed
A moment you paused and it actually made you sound thoughtful
These are small wins — and they matter.
Confidence isn’t built from tearing yourself down. It’s built from seeing what’s already good and building on it.
🛠️ Identify One Tiny Tweak to Practice
After you’ve watched yourself, pick one thing to improve.
Not ten. Not everything. One.
Maybe you:
Want to slow down just a bit
Notice you’re using too many filler words
See you could hold eye contact with the camera longer
That’s your practice goal for next time.
This is how pros improve: not by overhauling everything, but by making small, focused adjustments over time.
Final Thoughts
Recording yourself isn’t about creating a perfect version of you. It’s about building awareness, kindness, and progress.
You’ll realize:
You’re not as bad as you think.
You’re not as “unnatural” as you fear.
You’re more capable than you give yourself credit for.
Start small. Be kind. And watch yourself grow.
Personal Updates
💔 Today I’m heartbroken. I’ve ended the relationship with a very important person. Time will heal.
“We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.” — John Dewey