30 Days to a More Skillful You

You're worth it. Invest in you.

The 2026 30-Day Say It Skillfully Challenge offers bite-sized ways to start your year with intention and momentum. Each day, you'll build one practical communication skill that helps you show up with more clarity, confidence, and credibility at work and in life.

30 days. 30 focused moments. One smart investment that sets the tone for your entire year. You only get one chance to start 2026 off right—don't miss it. Let's go!

To stay up to date on daily challenges and everything Say It Skillfully:

Today's Challenge (January 29th)

Day #30: Appreciate YOU
Celebrating the Growth You Built

Welcome to Day 30 of the 30-Day Say It Skillfully Challenge–and thank you for being part of the solution. By showing up, reflecting, practicing, and taking risks, you've done something many people intend to do but don't: you committed to growth.

Today's focus is on one of the most important and most overlooked communication skills: appreciation directed at you. It's easy to finish a challenge and immediately jump to what you still need to improve. But skillful growth requires reinforcement.

If you don't acknowledge your progress, you train your brain to only see gaps. Appreciation doesn't mean "I'm done." It means "I see what I've built, and I'm proud I showed up."

Today's Challenge: Take five minutes and write yourself a short appreciation note. Keep it specific and real.
Consider including ways you grew (even small ones count!), moments you showed courage, and qualities you respect in yourself. Then choose one small way to mark the moment–tell a friend, take a walk, share a takeaway, or simply pause and let it land: you did this!

As always, cheering for you to make the most of your 2026! This challenge doesn't end today; it continues every time you choose awareness over autopilot, courage over silence, and connection over comfort. Thank you for being part of the solution, and for showing up with intention.

To help you keep going, I encourage you to check out the Say It Skillfully On Demand program, designed specifically to help you build your communication capability, so you can "Be ADEPT"! You can also bring Say It Skillfully to your colleagues and help create a workplace where people feel heard, valued, and perform at their best. Learn more here!

Missed Yesterday's Challenge? No Problem!

Day #29: Back to the Basics Part II
ADEPT Check-In

Welcome to Day 29 of the 30-Day Say It Skillfully Challenge! Like yesterday, today is about revisiting your communication toolkit, not as concepts, but as real skills you can choose in real time. The ADEPT skills:
Be an Advocate, so you help others speak up
Be Diverse, to embrace difference
Be Empathetic, so you walk in others' shoes (and includes: Be Curious to seek to understand | Be Clear to confirm what others hear | Be Love to put people first)
Be Present, to lead yourself first
Be Transparent, and show vulnerability

Being ADEPT isn't about using every tool in every conversation. It's about building range. When you have range, you're not stuck with one communication style. You can advocate when something needs to be said, broaden perspectives when the room gets narrow, bring empathy when emotions rise, stay present when stress creeps in, and be transparent when trust depends on what's real. The point is choice, so your communication becomes intentional, not accidental.

Today's Challenge: In your journal, or as a mental note, reflect on your application of the ADEPT toolkit.
Answer:
1. Which ADEPT skill is most natural for me right now? (What do I already do well?)
2. Which skill do I avoid or underuse–and why? (What fear or habit pulls me away from it?)
Then, pick one "stretch skill" and write one sentence you'll practice using today. For example:

Advocate: "I want to make sure we don't miss ___."
Diverse: "What's a perspective we haven't heard yet?"
Empathetic: "Help me understand what matters most to you here."
Present: "Let me pause for a moment. I want to respond thoughtfully."
Transparent: "Here's what I know, here's what I don't, and here's what I suggest."

What happened when you practiced the skill you normally avoid? Did you feel more capable, even if it felt unnatural or uncomfortable?

Cheering for you to make the most of this 30-day challenge–whether you're recommitting to a resolution, trying something new, or simply choosing to turn over a fresh leaf this year. One small step today can change how you show up all year long. You've got this!

Previous Challenges

P.S. Want more?

The Say It Skillfully book is here to help you keep building the skills that matter—today and all year long. Give yourself (and your loved ones) the gift of confidence!