How Winter Olympics skills apply (sort of) to internal communication

Style points count, but it’s mostly about execution and sticking the landing. Thankfully, triple lutzes, ice dancing and shiny outfits are not required at most offices, but we all have an audience—and judges—to whom we’re beholden.

In observance of the 2018 Winter Olympics, here are four more events communicators might recognize:

1. Curling the stones of strategy. Communicators aren’t typically tasked with gliding polished granite stones onto concentric circles, but successful communication does require precision, teamwork and strategy. It takes a deft touch—and no small amount of furious scrubbing—to ensure messages land smack dab in the middle of a target.

Communicators would be wise to take a page from curlers’ careful consideration. Each shot they take is purposeful, measured and painstakingly calculated. In the same way, be precise and concise with your language and with each project you take on. Define your target, consider your trajectory, glide confidently toward your objective, relentlessly brush away impediments (#editing), and land your stones in the right spots.