How Recording Yourself for 10 Minutes a Day Can Improve Your UX Research Skills
As a UX professional, you know that asking the right questions and actively listening to your users is crucial to the success of any project. However, it can be challenging to hone these skills without constant practice. That’s why I decided to take on a 30-day personal challenge to improve my user research skills through recording myself for 10 minutes a day.
I previously did a 30-day challenge to improve my public speaking skills and wrote a previous article on the 5-step process I took. Recently, I wanted to improve my user research skills, in particular to asking questions and active listening skills. Here’s how I did it:
Step 1: Define your goal
Before starting any challenge, it’s essential to define your goal. In my case, I wanted to improve my user research skills. Specifically, I wanted to work on my ability to ask open-ended questions, actively listen to users, and pick up on nuances in their responses.
Step 2: Set a specific task
To make this challenge more manageable, I decided to focus on one specific task each day. For example, on the first day, I focused on asking open-ended questions, and on the second day, I focused on active listening skills. This approach allowed me to break down my larger goal into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Step 3: Record yourself
Each day, I set aside 10 minutes to record myself practicing the task of the day. I used my phone to record myself asking questions or practicing active listening skills. I found it helpful to start with simple scenarios, like asking a friend about their day or practicing active listening skills while watching a TV show.
Step 4: Watch and learn
After each recording, I watched it back and took notes on what I did well and where I could improve. For example, I noted if I used any leading questions or interrupted the user while they were speaking. This step was crucial because it allowed me to identify my weaknesses and work on improving them.
Step 5: Repeat and track progress
I repeated this process for 30 days, with each day focusing on a different task. By the end of the challenge, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to ask open-ended questions, actively listen to users, and pick up on nuances in their responses. I also felt more confident and comfortable during user interviews.
Recording yourself for 10 minutes a day can seem daunting, but it’s a small commitment that can lead to significant improvements in your UX research skills. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Start with simple scenarios
It’s easier to practice asking open-ended questions and active listening skills in low-stakes situations, like with a friend or family member. For example, for the first day of the challenge, record yourself asking questions to a friend or family member about their recent experience with a product or service. Make sure to ask open-ended questions and actively listen to their responses. Afterwards, watch the recording and take note of any areas where you can improve your questioning and listening skills. For instance, you might notice that you interrupted your friend too often or that you didn’t follow up on some of their answers with additional questions. Use these insights to adjust your approach for the following day’s recording.
Be patient with yourself
Improving your UX research skills takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. As an example scenario, let’s say that on the first few days of the challenge, you find it difficult to listen actively to others during conversations or interviews. You might get distracted by your own thoughts, find it hard to focus on what the other person is saying, or struggle to come up with relevant follow-up questions.
It’s important to remember that improving your UX research skills takes time, and it’s okay to make mistakes or struggle at first. Instead of getting frustrated with yourself, take a moment to acknowledge the areas where you struggled and think about how you can improve in those areas. Maybe you need to practice more active listening, or maybe you need to work on coming up with more thoughtful follow-up questions. Whatever the case may be, be patient with yourself and remember that improvement takes time and effort.
Set realistic goals
If you’re new to UX research, start with a small goal, like practicing active listening skills for five minutes a day. As you improve, you can increase the length and complexity of your tasks. For example, if you’re new to UX research, it may not be realistic to expect yourself to conduct a full user interview in just 10 minutes. Instead, you could set a goal to ask one or two relevant questions during a conversation or interview, and focus on actively listening to the user’s response. This goal is specific, achievable within the time frame, and helps you improve your skills gradually over time.
Another aspect of setting realistic goals is to avoid setting yourself up for failure or burnout. If you have a busy schedule or other priorities that demand your attention, it may not be realistic to expect yourself to spend hours each day on this challenge. Instead, you could start with just 10 minutes a day and gradually increase the time as you become more comfortable and confident.
Celebrate your progress
Take time to acknowledge your improvements and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. You could celebrate by treating yourself to a favorite snack or drink, sharing your progress with a friend or colleague, or taking a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come. By celebrating your progress, you are not only acknowledging your hard work and dedication, but also reinforcing the positive behavior and encouraging yourself to continue improving.
In conclusion, recording yourself for 10 minutes a day is a simple and effective way to improve your UX research skills. By defining your goal, setting specific tasks, recording yourself, watching and learning, and tracking your progress, you can become a more effective UX researcher and provide even greater value to your users and stakeholders.
If you’re interested in receiving mentorship from me, whether it’s for a one-off call or for short-term or long-term membership in UX Design, feel free to book a 30-minute consultation with me through my Calendly link. I look forward to helping you grow in your UX Design career!
