Is your preferred method of communication predictable to your team? (178-2)

Leaders can learn a lot about communication by observing how God communicated with the people of Judah. Read Joel 1:1-20.

God communicated to the people of Judah through His prophets. Verse one says, “The word of the Lord that came to Joel.” Through the words of Joel, God would establish an understanding of some basic principles the people needed to live by. In the specific case of Joel, God had Joel use a physical object lesson that had the people’s attention—a swarm of locust had destroyed all their crops and the people were in danger of starving. This object lesson helped the people understand a spiritual lesson concerning the devastating results of sin. Throughout the Bible, God used many different individuals and a number of different methods to communicate. Leaders can learn a tremendous amount about communication by studying just a few of the methods God used to communicate to His people.

There are several basic communication principles God used frequently in the Bible:

• God uses a variety of media and the appropriate media for the situation. God spoke through dreams, a fire in a bush that did not consume the bush, outright visions, object lessons from nature, other people and even a talking donkey. Leaders are more effective communicators if they do not limit themselves to one method of communication.
• God used individual’s personal demeanor and physical dress to communicate specific messages. John the Baptist never cut his hair, ate specific foods, and dressed a specific way that helped him communicate his message. Samuel was asked to go without clothes for a period of time to help communicate a specific message. Wise leaders will use the way they dress, their facial expression, tone of voice, and the pacing of their words to help them be effective communicators.
• God constantly restates His message. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” Wise leaders understand the power of constantly restating goals. This can happen verbally, through the work environment, through plaques and signage, policy, salary, recognition, etc. The effective leader finds a plethora of ways to restate the goal.
• God often communicated through relationship. The Bible calls David a friend of God. God talked to Moses face-to-face. A leader’s values are communicated loud and clear to all those around them based on the relationships they develop and those they shun. Relationship allows understanding even when words are less than adequate because those in relationship listen to the heart not just words.
• God’s communications are always consistent. They do not contradict one another and are always consistent with His character. Wise leaders’ communications are consistent in terms of content of the message and the truths within the message.

Do you have a preferred method of communication that has become somewhat predictable to your team? Does it seem that only a small portion of those receiving your communications understand what is being communicated and why? Wise leaders constantly restate the goals using a variety of straight forward and creative communication techniques.