Why it pays to treat communication like a muscle…
Yesterday I tried to do something I hadn't done for a while. I had an epic fail, as the kids say...
I tried to do a chin up. That's it, nothing difficult. Or at least that's what I thought. Until I tried to get my chin over the bar. Assuming my chin hasn't grown longer, I can only assume six months away from the bar has led to what used to feel effortless feeling gargantuan.
Hypertrophy vs atrophy
If you've ever broken a leg you'll know how your leg looks and feels after six weeks in a cast and on crutches. Weakened, dwindled, atrophied. A fraction of itself. The way we build it back up is through constant use. This is called 'hypertrophy' (increase in muscle cell size)
What looks hard is easy to them
There are so many areas in life where the "use it or lose it" principle applies, and communication is just another in the long list. Picture the experienced communicator stood on stage sharing stories with their audience and interacting with them with ease". You're seeing muscle memory in action.
Repetition is the mother of all skill
If you've been speaking on lots of panels lately, you might have noticed that your ability to respond to questions clearly and concisely has improved. You're waffling less, the moderator doesn't have to cut in to get a word in edgeways. Your messages are easy to digest.
This is because you're building up your communication muscle in that specific area. Those tiny increases in ability that come through constant repetition, compound into huge changes over weeks, months and years.
You can't get stronger without strength training
Expecting to get stronger without regularly stimulating your muscles fibres would be madness. Walking up to a heavy barbell and expecting to lift it if you haven't been near one in months is asking for a doctor's note. But we expect our communications muscle fibres to fire up on demand, even though they've been in a communication plaster cast.
Train your communication muscles at every opportunity. Meetings, presentations, coaching conversations, keynotes, board presentations... The more time you spend speaking, asking, listening, responding and formulating questions the bigger your muscle fibres will become.
Make communication a habit not an event
When we see communication as a hat to put on for certain occasions, we miss the opportunities to practise presented by real life. I love nothing more than practising my standup comedy crowdwork with whoever's in front of me in the Tesco checkout queue. Use real life to keep the sword sharp.
A lesson from a legend
Jonny Wilkinson was the greatest kicker of a Rugby ball in history. Why? Because he made a point of kicking more rugby balls than anybody else. Even when he was at the top of his game. Once you're good, repetition will only make you better...
