Three powerful questions for improving your thinking and evaluation process are:

1. What did I do well?
2. What did I learn?
3. How can I use what I learned to improve?

Write these down and read them after seeing the results of your actions.  Take the time to consider each one and take planned action on the third question to insure your continuous improvement.

1. The words you choose. (“I think you’re mistaken” or “You’re wrong”)
2. Your voice qualities or how you say something (tone, tempo etc.)
3. Your physiology or how you use your body when you say your words. (posture, facial expression etc.)

Research shows that words account for 7% of your communication, how you say something is 38% and how you use your body accounts for 55% of your communication.  We have sayings that support this.  “Talk is cheap”….”It’s not what you say, but how you say it” and “action speaks louder than words”.

You can say ”You’re intelligent” and by varying your voice qualities slightly, it can change from a statement of fact to questioning if you are intelligent.  The same two words, but you may be sending two completely different messages.   The impact of your communication is not only on others, but you as well.  How you communicate sends a message to you and the person or people you are communicating to.  If your goal is to communicate a sense of certainty to your team, you must first have an internal conversation that makes you feel absolutely certain about what you are going to say.

My next few blogs will explore the various aspects of communication and provide you with the strategies needed to be a powerful communicator and develop the skills for influencing others for the greater good.

Walk… run…exercise….learn to move your body!  Studies are showing that there is a connection between how we use our body and how we feel.  By changing how you move, your posture, breathing or facial expression, you will begin to change how you feel immediately.  Findings from a Duke University Medical Centre study demonstrated that 30 minutes of invigorating exercise at least three times a week could be just as effective as drug therapy in relieving the symptoms of major depression in the short term and if continued, exercise greatly reduced the chances of the depression returning.

Consider that when we are feeling negative emotions, our body tends to contract.  When we are feeling positive emotions our body tends to expand.   By walking, running, going to the gym or taking a yoga class, you are moving and expanding your body in many ways.  You will begin to feel more positive and improve your self image.  Exercise is a win-win-win situation for you.  It contributes to building strength; physically, mentally and emotionally.  So walk, move and breathe your way to feeling happier, healthier and living a more productive life.

1. Be Willing to Stretch
This doesn’t mean stretch your body; it means that you must be willing to stretch or expand your comfort zone. There are two laws of human nature. The first is that we gravitate to our comfort zone and the second is that all growth happens when we step beyond our comfort zone. Begin with simple things and build strength. You will find as your try new things, they become more comfortable with every attempt.

2. Play Full Out
Playing full out means giving every challenge, all you have. The barrier that prevents most adults from playing full out is the concern we have for what others will think. What if we don’t succeed? What if I look foolish? These thoughts hold us back from playing full out and prevent us from achieving our goals and dreams. Baseball has their homerun hitters, who very often strike out while taking big wild swings at the ball and they do it in front of thousands of people. Be willing to risk taking some big wild swings for what you want. Your life is worth living and you deserve to achieve your goals, so play full out!

3. Play SMART
You should have a “SMART” plan for what you want to achieve. The plan should include written goals and a strategy for achieving them. It should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time based. If you require help, identify what you need, where you can get it and put it in the plan. Schedule time to review your progress and ensure that you are on track.

4. Play Fair
For you to improve your life, you must be able to develop positive relationships with people. Learn to treat others fairly. Honesty, loyalty, integrity and respect are the foundation of personal leaderships. You may not always agree with others but by playing fair, you can try to understand and appreciate them.

5. Have FUN!
Life is too short for doing something you do not enjoy. Learn to have fun with everything you do and help others to do the same. When you are having fun, your work has more meaning and you will do a better job. When you are having fun in what you do, it will have a positive impact on your health; physically, mentally and emotionally.

These five steps can be a foundation for living a life of continued improvement. Challenge yourself to improve by practicing them every day and take your life to a new level of success.