Communication Is Key
We talk about communication being key, and I have found that all problems are created and solved through communication. To get this right, we must remember that silence is a form of communication. So, to rephrase, all problems are created and solved by either too little or too much communication. And our job is to figure out which one.
The Importance of Internal Communication
When we talk about communication, most people focus on external communication or communication with other humans. But there is another type of communication, and that is with the most important person in your life—you. Internal communication is one of the biggest areas we neglect, which is why it is the number one cause of most problems in our lives. Just think, if we took the time to actually think things through, ask ourselves questions, and run through different scenarios, how much more aligned and powerful our lives would be—and how much easier.
Avoiding “Thinking Out Loud”
The way most people live life is by what I call “thinking out loud.” They are not sure what to do, so they say and act on the first thing that comes to mind, which is often not the best idea, and let it play out in real life. This, as we have learned, is very costly in terms of time, energy, and money.
But what if, instead, we took ten minutes by ourselves, went through all of the options in our head, picked the best one, and acted on it? Now we are only acting on the best option, which would allow us to get results even quicker.
Introducing Transition Time
I call this type of thinking “transition time.” So, instead of booking meetings back-to-back, what if you had a rule to block off 15 minutes before each call or meeting to get up to speed on what you want to discuss, think through your options, and show up mentally prepared?
I know it contradicts how many people run their lives—non-stop, with no breaks—but this is now a different game. You are still fully booked, but transition time is part of the booking, so now you are not leaving it to chance. You actually have scheduled breaks for your mind to reset and focus.
Self-Coaching for Consistent Growth
The biggest benefit? You are now getting coaching throughout the day from the most valuable coach that ever existed—yourself.