Repetition creates automation. Getting better at anything requires deliberate practice. Think about the hours one might spend at basketball practice, shooting hoops and mastering drills. These skills eventually become automatic. The same is true for you! We all want to be influential, but few deliberately practice communication skills until they stick.

When we practice, actions become habits, and the brain no longer needs to get involved. The body can automatically complete an action, allowing the brain to focus on the strategic aspects of a conversation—not the delivery. Deliberate practice requires feedback for development to improve.

Think back to when you learned how to drive. Your parents taught you when to change gears, brake or accelerate – all while following the rules of the road. It was challenging and frustrating. Just when you got the hang of one thing, it was time to learn something new. Eventually, your practice paid off. Now, you get in your car and drive.

Being an influential communicator doesn’t happen by accident. It requires deliberate practice and ongoing feedback from a trusted source.

Four steps to grow your influence and have others act on what you have to say.

Break it down.

We’ve heard the saying “quality over quantity.” The same holds true for improving your influence skills. Start first by recording yourself in an upcoming interaction – whether it’s in-person or virtual. Immediately review the playback. Write down everything you see that needs improvement. Then, break it down into manageable pieces. Focus on one habit at a time. Repeated deliberate practice executed in short bursts at regular intervals is better than working on something all day. Practicing in short durations will reinforce your subconscious, creating permanent long-term habits.

Put in the work.

Learning something new requires repeated exposure. Studies show that some habits can be solidified with 7 hours’ worth of practice, while others can take up to 7,000. I promise you will see substantial changes in your daily interactions if you put in the concentrated effort for each interaction. Set aside five minutes each morning and write down the skills you will commit to throughout the day. Carry it with you as a reminder to remain focused in each conversation. You’ll be surprised how quickly your habits begin to change.

Get clear

Goals partnered with practice become a powerful motivator, creating the momentum needed for ongoing improvement. It’s easier to stay motivated when we see ourselves getting better. We get comfortable being uncomfortable because we know change lies ahead. Determine what you want to accomplish in the next 30 days. Focusing on 30 days at a time will instantly change your influence skills.

Seek immediate feedback.

Practice makes permanent, so what you practice matters. Seeking immediate feedback is crucial to reinforcing what you’re doing and why. Don’t settle for “you did great.” Instead, ask for specific feedback on what worked and still needs work. Specific feedback helps you create a plan to immediately focus on skills needing improvement. To grow your influence, start by determining which communication skills need improvement.

Commit today to take your communication skills from good to influential. It’s worth the work!