Influence is a choice, and there are no “quick fixes.”  If you hold yourself accountable to seek feedback and practice, you will see positive changes fairly quickly. You will begin to notice how good it feels to authentically connect with your listeners, to powerfully facilitate a meeting and to confidently deliver a message. The leaders whom my team and I coach consistently report seeing immediate improvements, such as how their team responds to them, increased sales and getting more appointments with prospects and customers.

Before you dive into the next item on your to-do list, slow down, take a breath and complete these three steps to begin improving your day-to-day communication.

1. Who will I ask in the next 24 hours to be my accountability partner to make sure I have influence Monday to Monday®?
2. What will I commit to for the next three months to make sure I have more influence Monday to Monday®?
3. Write down your three commitments and post in a location where you’ll see them every day, all day.

• Share your three commitments with your accountability partner and check in with them weekly on your progress.
• Create reminders on your calendar to check in on your own progress.

As you see initial results, your commitment will grow. As your commitment grows, you’ll be even more willing to ask for feedback and to practice, and you’ll see even greater results. It’s an upward spiral that leads to sustained influence. In time, communicating with influence will naturally become part of who you are and what you do every day, in much the same way that consistent diet and exercise lead to sustained health. When you see the positive results, you’ll never want to go back to your old habits.

Here’s to your BEST year ever! You can start anytime!

• Please drop me a note to share how you plan on committing to your development this year.
• Tag me on my Facebook page.

• If you missed one of our previous blogs or tips, please visit us online.

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What Achievers Read:

Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius

The post Have you improved your verbal and non-verbal communication this year? first appeared on Stacey Hanke, Inc..