New year, same financial communication challenges

This week is an opportunity for change because everyone's starting fresh. Inboxes are being cleared. Priorities are being reset. Teams are regrouping.

It's the perfect moment to change how you communicate financial information.

Before the holidays, you probably sent reports full of technical language because "that's how we've always done it".

This week, try something different. Pick one routine financial update and rewrite it in plain language.

Here's how:

1. Remove jargon. Replace "adverse variance" with "spent more than planned".
2. Add clear action points. Tell readers exactly what they need to do, not just what happened.
3. Put the bottom line first. Don't make people hunt for the key message.

See if anyone notices. My guess? They'll thank you for it.

January is when new habits form. The communication patterns you set this week can stick. Make them count.

Start with one document. One email. One report. Write it as if you're explaining it to someone who's just walked back through the door after two weeks away.

Because that's exactly who's reading it.