SPEAK IT: Find Your Communication Compass

Here’s one of my favorite reminders:

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”

That applies beautifully to communication.

Have you ever started answering a question and halfway through thought, Where am I going with this?

Yep. Me too.

That's why I created my Communication Compass.

Before you start talking, know your direction.

Who is my listener?

What do I want them to understand?

How do I want them to feel?

And what do I want them to do next?

When you know where you're headed, you don't have to fill every second with words. You can eliminate the rambling, communicate with greater clarity and actually take your listener somewhere.

Confidence isn't always about having more to say. Sometimes it's about knowing exactly where you're going.

LIVE IT: My Olaplex Hair Oil

Okay, communication tools aside, can we talk about good hair?

This week's Live It is my Olaplex Hair Oil.

A little goes a long way, and I love the smooth, shiny finish without feeling like I've weighed my hair down with a gallon of product.

I've added it to my Amazon favorites, along with some of the other things I'm currently loving. You can find the link in my bio on social media.

Because Live It doesn't have to be profound every week.

Sometimes it's just really good hair oil.

LET IT GO: Instagram Likes

Oof. This one.

This week I'm working on releasing my attachment to likes on Instagram.

When you create content regularly, it is incredibly easy to start allowing numbers to tell you whether something you made was "good."

Did enough people like it?

Did it perform?

Did the algorithm pick it up?

Should I have posted something else?

And suddenly you're not creating anymore. You're auditioning for an algorithm.

I know something about auditioning. I don't need another one.

So I'm reminding myself:

Connection over approval.

If something I share helps one person communicate more confidently, take up a little more space, speak up in a meeting or finally put their idea into the world, that's worth something—whether Instagram gives it 10 likes or 10,000.

And isn't that really the lesson underneath all three this week?

Know where you're going. Enjoy the things you love. Stop letting someone—or something—else determine your value.

Speak it.

Live it.

And sometimes, for the love of God, let it go.

— Ana

Want to communicate with more confidence? Follow @speak.likeyoumeanit for practical communication tools, public speaking tips and a little encouragement to stop overthinking and start connecting.

And if you're preparing for a speech, presentation, interview, on-camera appearance or big moment and want some one-on-one help, book a free 15-minute discovery call at Speak Like You Mean It.