ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS

I like running. Not so much the act of running but the way I feel after I’m done running. I feel like I can do A N Y T H I N G when I finish a run! I’m really slow and don’t have the endurance I used to have, but I can at least say that I enjoy the process of running more than I have in a long time.

I started running in 2010 and I have learned over the years that there are two types of runners out there: the sprinters and marathoners. Sprinters are fast as lightning but fizzle out in a hurry. They are all gas and no brakes. Marathoners on the other hand, know how to pace themselves, they understand that they have 5, 10, 26, or 50 miles to go so they better not use all their energy in the first thirty seconds.

Communication is the same. It is a marathon that requires constant and consistent training, practice, and performance in order to get better!

Sometimes we think of communication as a sprint, but I want you to think of it as a long-term process – a marathon. While the distance or length of the event might vary, you must pace yourself and “train” properly in order for your communication to be a success.

Let’s look at an email marketing campaign for example. You don’t just send one email and call it good. You have to plan out the frequency of your emails, the content you will provide, how you will provide it (body of email, link to blog post, link to podcast or YouTube video, etc). Email marketing campaigns are long-term, well-thought-out plans to communicate with your clients and prospective clients regularly. Your content needs to be valuable and relate to your expertise in some way. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, so you can pace yourself with your content and take your time to create it.

Email marketing might be considered the ultra-marathon of business communication, but it isn’t the only type of communication that requires a long-term strategy and plan. Public speaking, coaching, mentoring, and even guest-interviewing on others’ platforms require planning, preparation, practice, and performance. The amount of planning, prep, and practice needed depends on the performance you plan to give. Again, if you’re a runner working toward a 5k, you won’t need as much training as if you are working toward a half-marathon. The same goes for your communication goals.

To help you with your communication “training” plan, here are three things to take into consideration when you commit to that email campaign or that guest podcast appearance (or any other communication event).

1. Know your goal: if your goal is to gain more clients via your email list, you should plan accordingly. If your goal is to inspire the crowd at a speaking engagement, your plan and time frame would be different. Whatever your goal, you need an appropriate plan to achieve it.

2. Identify potential challenges: Whatever the goal, you must identify the challenges as early as possible. If you are building an email list, challenges could be choosing a service provider or mapping out your content ideas. If you are guest speaking on a podcast, you might have to navigate equipment issues or technical problems. Identifying these potential challenges early will allow you to consider them as you prepare and put your plan into practice so that if they do come up, you already have a plan to work around them.

3. Make a plan, work the plan: In any kind of communication process, you MUST make a plan and then implement that plan. Planning is one of the hardest parts of the communication process, but it is also the most important. In a long-term campaign like email marketing, you will be better served by planning out your content several weeks in advance. You can also write your content in advance and schedule it to be sent out at a later date so that if there are any issues, you can tackle them without having to also worry about what to write. In a public speaking engagement, you should plan what you will talk about, then prepare your outline, and once finished, you should practice your speech at least 3 times so you are comfortable delivering your words.

While things don’t always go as planned, you will be able to provide a much better product and you will be much less stressed if you have a plan to guide you through the process.

I hope these tips help you in your next communication endeavor. Email marketing, public speaking, and regularly communicating with your audience are all required when you are in business, but there is always room to make your communication processes stronger and more successful.

Thanks for stopping by. Did you know that I can help you with creating your communication “training” plan? That’s right! In my personalized coaching program, I can help you create a plan for that new email campaign, practice for that speech you need to give, create outlines for your content, and so much more! I can help you in as little as one 60-minute call or my full coaching program! I have multiple options available and would love to help you perfect YOUR communication plan!

Head on over to my resources page HERE to enroll in coaching, purchase proofreading services, connect on social media, or just see what I am working on. You can even download my FREE eBook to get you started with my 5 tips for communicating greatly!

Hope to see you soon!

Ciao for now!