Are you familiar with the quote “Whatever you’re not changing, you’re choosing”? The meaning behind this lies in complacency. If there are things we aren’t happy with, and we don’t change them, we’re actively choosing to keep them around. Choice and change are two of the biggest factors in personal and professional growth – the trajectory of our careers and individual goals.

Let’s unpack the choice to change as it relates to the communication space. Imagine you lead a weekly meeting with your team, and every week, the night before, you can’t sleep. You’re nervous, the anxiety of the following morning has your mind racing, and you constantly worry about how you’ll be perceived.

You have a choice – you can stay complacent, do what you’ve always done, and lead another meeting where things are ‘just ok’, with an “I survived” mentality.

Or, you can change. You can seek feedback from others about what’s meaningful and important during these weekly meetings. You can be mindful of how you set the meeting – being considerate of your audience, your purpose, and what’s in it for them. You can summarize key takeaways and leave people with a clear understanding of the next steps.

Let’s consider another scenario. You have to present an update on the status of your current project at the end of each month. The audience is often management and director-level. Although you’ve delivered this talk countless times, you never seem to feel confident when it’s over. You notice your physical and vocal skills aren’t working for you. Your message wanders and you seem to ramble. When you finally get to Q&A, you don’t know how to respond or aren’t prepared for the questions that come your way.

Another choice – hope these situations get better over time, or proactively change what isn’t working so you have more of an impact professionally.

Great power exists in our ability to choose change. We know it’ll likely be uncomfortable; all change is. Yet, a small period of discomfort for a long-lasting improvement is a welcome trade-off.

As we enter the final month of 2023, I challenge you to ask yourself: What are you choosing to change for 2024? Where are there current gaps in your communication skills? Why do you feel filling these gaps will be important for you? How are you planning to address them?

In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” As we close out the year, put a plan together and hold yourself accountable. We’d love to help support you in your journey towards effective communication.