Our focus on communicating so far has intentionally been a bit broad to be more general and inclusive. In this blog we are going to narrow the subject matter to concentrate on communication with staff. In a post on viralsolutions.net, https://viralsolutions.net/church-staff-communication/ – .X-zmjulKgd0 , the author states that “effective church staff communication is a key element of any healthy church.” That is, however, not to say that it is easy.
I must confess that as a corporate leader, staff meetings were quite often the least favorite part of my job. It was difficult to meet with diverse functions and find common themes of interest, what information could be broadly shared, and I often felt that their time was being wasted. That was a BIG mistake on my part.
When staff has a lack of communication from their leader it leads to disorganization. Without clear guidance and direction or knowledge of the broader picture there can be confusion. Different ministries may start to duplicate efforts, often with conflicting outcomes desired based on their specific focus. The void in information may cause some to fill the gap with gossip, incorrect suppositions or improper direction. This will obviously lead to a negative impact on morale.
Conversely, when information is correctly shared this creates a sense of trust. Including others allows them to feel trusted and valued. The free exchange of information leads to alignment between ministries. Rather than duplication of effort there can be synergistic collaboration where the different perspectives shared can lead to a better overall outcomes. Alignment between staff creates better harmony and improved morale which frequently translates into growth.
The Center for Creative Leadership http://ccl.org/ has 5 tips for effective communication.
- Communicate relentlessly – communication must be frequent, open and transparent. Use different media – in person, e-mail, text, phone, etc.
- Simplify and be direct – “simple communication is smart communication”
- Listen and encourage input – this is often the most difficult tip for leaders, but it is critical! Showing interest in others’ thoughts and opinions helps create and strengthen an emotional connection.
- Illustrate through stories – everyone loves a good story. It makes it easier to understand and recall in the future. It is also more likely to be shared with others.
- Affirm with actions – a quote often attributed to St. Francis is to preach the Gospel often, when necessary use words. Similarly, your words as a leader must be consistent with what you do. “Actions speak louder than words.”
We must also be aware of our attitude when interacting with staff. It is often our body language or the tone of our voice that conveys a message much more strongly than our words. If your words, actions and attitudes are not properly aligned it can have a strong negative effect on staff
In the next blog we will look at some ways to improve communication with, and between, your staff.