The skill I practise most regularly is public speaking. I'm a sales executive in Lagos, and about a year ago I realised that my nerves in presentations were holding my career back.
I practise in a few different ways. Every Wednesday evening I go to a speaking club that meets in a hotel conference room. There are about twenty members, from students to retired managers, and each week some of us give short speeches while others give feedback. On top of that, I practise at home three or four times a week. I pick a topic, set a timer on my phone for two minutes and record myself speaking without notes. Then I watch the video back, which is painful but useful, and count things like how often I say 'erm' or look at the floor. My flatmate Chidi has also become my unofficial audience, though he's not always patient about it.
There are a couple of reasons I want to improve. The practical one is my job. In sales, being able to explain an idea clearly and confidently makes a huge difference, and last month I gave a presentation to a big client without my hands shaking, which felt like a real breakthrough. But there's also a personal side. I was quite shy as a child, and I've always admired people who can stand up at a wedding or a meeting and make everyone laugh. I'd like to be that person one day. It's slow progress, but every recording shows a small improvement, and that keeps me motivated to keep going.