By Liz Radzick of Manifest Consulting

It’s getting close to the end of the year, a time to reflect and plan for the upcoming 2010. Although I feel the new year more profoundly in September, I’ll take any chance for a ‘do-over’ and so in this spirit I submit my list of communication resolutions for the coming year.

I have divided the list into 3 categories: Written Communication, Spoken Communication and Self-Talk.

Written Communication

In the coming year I would like to write even more thank-you notes and congratulations cards.  I have personally been the recipient of a number of these this year and I really appreciated them.

I will continue to avoid starting a round of email tag by including several specific date/time suggestions when trying to set up a meeting with someone. Sending an email with “Are you free next week sometime?” is too vague and results in lots of backing and forthing.

I will make even more of an effort to get people’s cell phone numbers when I meet them. I find texting is the best way to reach people these days so I’m going to stop leaving so many voice mails and just let my fingers do the talking.

Spoken Communication

I will be more conscious of when I’m telling a story with numerous side-trips to other stories or factoids. I know this drives my listeners crazy when a simple story takes 10 minutes to tell.

I will let you finish your sentences even more often. Call me on it when I don’t let you finish.

I will continue to work on a ratio of 5 positive comments to every 1 negative comment that come out of my mouth. If I shoot for 5, I find I don’t want to even say 1 to disrupt the flow.

Self-Talk

I will continue to talk to myself in a quiet, compassionate voice rather than barking at myself. It feels so much better and my stomach isn’t as tight as a result.

I will celebrate more often the little successes in life, especially as I lay my head on my pillow at night.

I will journal those successes more often so that when I’m feeling down and need to remind myself I can give myself this gift.

And I resolve, dear readers, to continue to give you the best that I can in this space in 2010! Thank you for all of your comments and your support. Happy New Year!