Redefining Communication for Church Leaders in Changing Times
Change is the only constant, and this applies to the way we communicate within the church community. In today's shifting landscape, where distractions are everywhere, and the medium of message delivery has evolved drastically, church leaders and church staff must adapt their methods of communication.
The Listening Dilemma in Church Leadership
Church leaders often face the challenge of their messages being lost. Whether it's irregular church attendance, the impact of the pandemic, the clutter of social media, or cultural shifts influencing the relevance of church leadership, the consequence is the same - people may not be paying attention.
If you, as a church leader, are communicating in exactly the same way as you did a decade ago, or even just before the pandemic, the potency of your communication has likely diminished. Dwindling attention from the congregation and increased competition for digital space has led to people tuning out more, and church leadership grappling with inefficient communication practices.
The Need to Speak More Clearly
The solution is not to insist on the congregation listening more fervently but instead to refocus our approach as communicators. Maybe we need to shift our attention to speaking more clearly, more accurately and with more empathy.
This alternative perspective avoids blaming the audience, which yields no constructive change and instead focuses on self-adjustment - speaking in a different manner, a different tone, a different setting - in short, communicating differently.
The traditional methods might not cut it anymore. Practices like 45-minute sermons or old social media tactics might not attract the attention they once did.
Adjusting Communication Practices
So, as a church leader or staff member, evaluate your communication methods. If your approach has stayed the same but the results are dwindling, it might be time for a change. This requires deep work, an introspective study of your communication technique and the courage to overhaul methods if necessary.
Ask yourself: how can I communicate more effectively and clearly? While the answer varies from person to person and church to church, at the very least, acknowledging the need for change is a step in the right direction.
If you'd like to delve deeper into this topic, tune into today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode.
