A Communication Improvement

Mike March 12, 2019 Great and Godly Leadership 0 Comments

You’ve seen the signs that realtors put in front of a house that is being sold. The basic sign has generic “for sale” wording plus the realtors name and contact. The sign may also have an add-on with extra information, such as “pool” or “open house.” The other day, I saw a new add-on: “Price Improvement.” I wondered if this was an improvement for the seller (meaning a price increase) or for potential buyers. I eventually decided that they were trying to communicate a reduction in the price. (No one would advertise a price increase!)

All leaders are in the communication business, regardless of the type of organization that they’re leading. And just like the sign on the house, it’s easy for us to think that we’re being crystal clear when our words are actually confusing. The problem is that leaders spend much of their time with their inner circle. This group may develop a shared understanding of words that doesn’t necessarily translate to the rest of the organization.

Even words that are commonly used – like “improvement” – can be confusing because definitions can vary from person to person. Do you think that everyone in your church or ministry has the same understanding when they hear discipleship, community, team, or transformation?

So how can you make sure that you’re not misunderstood? You can’t. But you can …

• Avoid words or terms that are not commonly used. You may want your church to be a “missional outpost,” but people will understand better if you say that your church will “share God’s love with your community.”
• Pay attention to body language. If you see furrowed brows or puzzled expressions when communicating an important message, something isn’t clear to the audience.
• Invite non-insiders to give feedback. Ask them to summarize the message or to point out things that weren’t clear. 
• Define key terms. If a particular word or phrase is central to your communication, then define what you mean by it. 

The last bullet is particularly important. A simple phrase such as “share God’s love with our community” is clearer than “missional outpost,” but it can still be interpreted in many ways. When the message is important, don’t leave it to each of your listeners to define on their own. Keep these simple practices in mind, and you’ll see an “improvement” in your communication.

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