The Shift That Changes Everything
What if the biggest breakthrough your team needs isn’t a new platform, new hire or new initiative—but a new way of talking? Not just more talking. Not louder talking. But more understanding. It’s easy to forget that communication isn’t just about getting our point across—it’s about creating shared meaning. And shared meaning is what builds teams that last.
That’s why this month, we’re launching something simple but powerful: the Three-Day Communication Challenge. It’s an invitation to shift your focus from being heard to creating understanding. For three workdays, every time you communicate—by email, in meetings, over Slack or in the break room—try making shared understanding your top goal.
I learned this years ago from one of my mentors, Dr. Mark Orbe, who taught me that the heart of communication is not just message delivery—it’s meaning-making. And if we're honest, most of us (me included) don’t always aim for that. We aim to be efficient. We aim to be right. We aim to move on. But if we put understanding in the driver’s seat—even for just a few days—we might be surprised by what changes: fewer misunderstandings, more clarity, less drama and stronger connection.
Here’s the truth: discomfort is often part of the process. Good communication doesn’t always feel easy, especially when the stakes are high. But it’s through discomfort that we grow. We stretch. We show up as people who not only have something to say—but who care deeply about how it lands. When you lead that way, you make people feel like somebody. That’s the whole game.
At Translator’s Consulting Group, we teach this every day in these learning and development opportunities for you and your team:
Inclusive Communication — Speak and listen through an inclusion-first lens
Leveraging Listening — Tune in with intention to build connection
Communication Station — Sharpen everyday talk-and-listen habits
Effective Communication — Build clarity, trust and understanding across roles
Conversations that Count: Building Brave Bridges — Practice tough talks with courage and care
It’s through classes, like these, that we’re helping teams stop reacting and start relating. We know that strong communication doesn’t come from buzzwords or scripts—it comes from brave people showing up to say what matters and hear what matters, even when it’s hard.
So if you’re willing, take the challenge. Pick a day. Pick three. Tell your team. Try it together. And if you do, we’d love to hear what shifts for you. Post your reflections using #TCG3DayCommunicationChallenge on LinkedIn and tag us. Let’s lead the way—one conversation at a time.