In many ways, life is all about communicating. And nowhere is it more critical to be a strong communicator than in leading people and organizations.
The best business leaders have the ability to effectively explain business fundamentals, strategy, alternatives, challenges and action plans in ways that tap into their employees’ sense of meaning.
Many people think they are communicating when they provide information in the form of memos, emails, reports and the like. But they’re not. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.
As you can imagine, there is a world of difference between giving out facts, figures and other material and actually getting through to people.
I can’t offer you one surefire method of communicating that is guaranteed to make your audience understand you completely every time you open your mouth. I can, however, describe nine vehicles that—when viewed correctly and used consistently—can help you get through more often. Here they are:
- Behavior. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. Actions really do speak louder than words.
- Relationships. The better the relationship, the better the communication.
- Emotions. Laughter, tears, nervousness, anger—such emotions add a human dimension to your words and make what you’re saying all the more powerful.
- Values. When strong, consistent values are evident in your daily life, you enhance your credibility, which, in turn, improves your chances of being heard and understood.
- Words. Whether written or spoken, words obviously are an integral part of communication. But don’t use them carelessly. Good communicators stay away from sloppy grammar, foul language, run-on sentences and muddled explanations.
- Listening. Communication isn’t one-sided. Listening is one of the best ways you can truly connect with someone.
- Expressions. If your mouth is saying one thing and your face is saying something else, your audience will listen to your face, every time. If you want to get through, make sure your expressions match your words.
- Compassion. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. If you want your communication to be effective, don’t be afraid to show that you care.
- Change. I’m not talking about change in a general sense here. I’m talking about personal change. It might involve breaking a bad habit, adjusting an attitude, revising expectations or even learning a new skill. Whatever the case, changing something about yourself can often open the door to improved communication.
I’ve given you nine ways to get through. But the communication puzzle has one more very important piece: integration.
Let me explain. If you use four of the nine vehicles consistently, you’ll be a much better communicator than if you only use two of them. If you use eight of the nine, you’ll get through more often than if you only use five. In other words, the more of the nine ways you use when you communicate, the more effective you’re going to be.
Do you want to get through to the people you lead? If you do, evaluate how well you’re utilizing these nine vehicles and begin adding the missing elements, one by one.
Stop being an information provider and start communicating.
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John Maxwell grew up in the 1950s in the small Midwestern city of Circleville, Ohio. John's earliest childhood memory is of knowing that he would someday be a pastor. He professed faith in Christ at the age of three, and reaffirmed that commitment when he was 13. At age 17, John began preparing for the ministry. He attended Circleville Bible College, earning his bachelor's degree in 1969. In June of that same year, he married his sweetheart, Margaret, and moved to tiny Hillham, Indiana, where he began his first pastorate.
While serving in his second church, Maxwell began to study the correlation between leadership effectiveness and ministry effectiveness. On July 4, 1976, while preaching at a service commemorating America's bicentennial, John sensed that God was calling him into a ministry to pastors. Within days after that event, pastors began to contact him, asking for his assistance in nurturing their churches. Over the next four years, on an informal basis, John helped scores of fellow pastors. Then, in 1980, he was asked to become Executive Director of Evangelism for the Wesleyan denomination.
Though his time at Wesleyan headquarters was productive, John soon realized that his deeper desire was to help pastors from numerous denominations. He knew that desire would be unfulfilled if he were to stay at denominational headquarters. As a result, in 1981 John accepted the call to return to the pastorate, this time at Skyline Wesleyan Church in the San Diego, California area. But he did so with the church's blessing to pursue his vision. The Skyline congregation allowed him to continue mentoring and assisting pastors even as he led them to new levels.
In 1985, as he continued to equip and encourage other pastors, John took the next crucial step in leadership development. He founded a new company called INJOY and created the INJOY Life Club, featuring a monthly tape for leaders. The fledging operation, established in the corner of a garage, was soon bursting at the seams. The INJOY Life Club tapes were received with great enthusiasm, and the number of subscriptions quickly increased from hundreds to thousands. Simultaneously, the demand for other resources and seminars exploded. Pastors from coast to coast were responding, and their desire for help was even greater than John had anticipated.
As the years passed, INJOY began demanding more and more of John's time. In 1995, he resigned from his position as senior pastor at Skyline following a very fruitful 14-year tenure. The church had tripled in size and its lay ministry involvement had increased ten-fold. Dr. Maxwell is in great demand today as a speaker. Through his bestselling books, audio and video resources, and major conferences, he communicates directly with more than one million people every year. He is frequently asked to speak for organizations such as Promise Keepers and Focus on the Family, but his greatest joy and desire is to help pastors become better leaders.
Because the need for leadership development knows no borders, John established EQUIP, a non-profit organization which trains leaders in urban communities, academic institutions, and within international organizations. EQUIP is also spearheading a movement which has enlisted more than one million pastoral prayer partners who covenant to pray specifically for those who shepherd God's flock.
John continues to seek new opportunities to help churches and church leaders. He knows that one thing is constant: the only hope for the world is salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, who gives life abundantly.