One Skill. Every Conversation. Every Opportunity.

Happy New Year! 

Every January, people set goals around fitness, finances, and productivity. Far fewer think about one of the skills that influence almost every opportunity they'll have this year: communication. 

Whether you're leading a team, pitching a client, interviewing for a promotion, speaking at a conference, or simply contributing in meetings, your ability to communicate shapes how people perceive your ideas—and your leadership.

Unlike many resolutions, communication comes with built-in opportunities for growth. Every conversation, meeting, and presentation can teach us something if we choose to notice it.

Here are three questions to start the year.

1. What kind of communicator do you want to become this year?

Be as specific as you can. Instead of “becoming a better presenter,” dive deeper. Does that mean being:

• More influential

• More concise

• More authentic

• More confident under pressure

• More memorable

  
  

Choose two or three qualities that genuinely matter to you. 

Note: If you've received feedback about specific improvements, don't simply make them a checklist. Translate them into qualities that reflect your values and the kind of leader you want to become. How can you make those goals personally meaningful? Research on motivation consistently shows we're more likely to pursue—and stick with—goals that align with our values and sense of identity.

2. Which opportunities matter most?

Think beyond presentations.

• Executive meetings

• Difficult conversations

• Media interviews

• Client pitches

• Town halls

• Team meetings

• Networking events

Where would stronger communication have the biggest impact?

Note: This also means taking advantage of those opportunities. I once had a client who went from declining 70% of media interview requests to accepting nearly that many instead. Developing your communication skills doesn't just make you more effective—it often makes speaking more enjoyable. Which opportunities further your goals? And where do they fall on your list of priorities this year? 

3. What's your practice plan?

One of my favorite stories about skill development comes from Benjamin Franklin. As a young man, Franklin wanted to become a more persuasive communicator. So he practiced on a regular basis. He studied great writers, challenged himself to express the same idea in multiple ways, and constantly refined his communication. He treated communication like a craft, not a talent, and went on to become one of history's most influential communicators. Centuries later, the lesson still holds. 

Here are a few ways to build a deliberate practice: 

• Ask for feedback after important meetings.

• Record yourself once a month and identify one small area of improvement. 

• Practice stories instead of memorizing slides.

• Work with a coach.

• Read one communication book each quarter.

  
  

Note: Consistency is your greatest ally. In some cases, it's even more than the plan itself.

As author James Clear reminds us, we don't rise to the level of our goals—we tend to fall to the level of our systems.

Sometime in the next twelve months there will be a conversation or appearance that has the potential to propel your career, strengthen an important relationship, or open an unexpected door. You may not get much advance notice, so why not start preparing now?