Increase Your Appetite For Public Speaking!
- Victoria Hogg
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Ready Player One!
Public speaking is more fun when you stop treating it like a one-and-done, pass-or-fail performance, and treat it like a game with levels.
That shift can be especially helpful if you are neurodivergent (eg. AuDHD or ADHD) - because you're doesn't produce dopamine like non-ADHD brains - or if you're simply a more systems-minded thinker.
Instead of aiming to ‘be a natural’, which seems a lot of pressure, make it fun and build a challenge ladder.
Level 1: speak up once in a meeting.
Level 2: ask a thoughtful question in a group.
Level 3: give a two-minute update without editing yourself.
Level 4: present one idea with one clear visual or story.
Each milestone earns a win. Track points, not perfection.
Gamification works because it gives your brain novelty, progress, and a visible reward loop. For any left-brain thinker (engineers, I’m looking at you!), this can turn speaking into an experiment: test one variable, review the data, improve the next round. You’re not failing - you’re iterating.
It helps to know that communication is a high-value skill. Warren Buffett says: “The easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now is to hone your communication skills, both written and verbal.”
“Gamification is not about play games, it’s about igniting passion; making tasks feel like victories and challenges like adventures” Yu-kai Chou, Taiwan-US speaker, author and experience designer
So make it playful. Build levels. Celebrate reps. Confidence often arrives after the scoreboard starts moving.
All the best,
Paul n Vic
#AppliedImprovisation #YesAnd #BusinessInPlay #BusinessSkills #PersonalGrowth #AgilityinBusiness #AdaptabilityQuotient #PositiveEnergy #PlayfulSolutions #Gamification
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Gamify It
Aim: Take any aspect of speechwriting or presentation that you want to improve (eg. filler words; glancing at notes; looking at the audience) and gamify it to create a points system. Record yourself and give yourself a score after watching back.
Outcome: You’ll gain clear stats on how well you're doing with any element that you want to improve.
How it works: Give yourself 20 points to begin with, knock a point off for each error you make during a five minute speech. Test yourself daily for one week.
Reflections: Did you improve? Was there a breakthrough moment?
