Communication

Communication

Let me listen to the words of their spirits. And let me speak words from your Spirit.

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

The more change an organization experiences, the more it needs effective communication, especially to and from the leader.

IT SEEMS like nothing happens silently among us, God; everything requires words. There are so many words for every event, every dream, every meeting, every relationship, every plan, and especially every change. In fact, my leading seems to be mostly words: the words that I hear or read and the words that I speak or write.

I want the organization to change in order to change the world, but mostly what changes is our words. To do things differently, we need different ideas, and the ideas need just the right words. What power the right words have, God! They bring our inner reality to life and make our external reality comprehensible for us.

Good words clarify, strengthen, and encourage us. The wrong words confuse us and leave us weakened and discouraged. Oh, Lord, give each of us the good words and the good listening we need to be a great organization.

You are such a listener, God! Help me listen to your Spirit so I will be able to listen to the unspoken messages people bring to me. I want to listen the way you do.

Make me genuinely accessible. People come with their words, but they hope I will hear their hearts. Whether they speak or write, teach me how to be truly quiet inside and actively listen. I do not want to disrespect them by interrupting or pretending to listen while I secretly ignore them so I can think about what I am going to say. I want to really listen and understand their hearts. Help me open my mind and heart, not just my office door. I cannot lead well if I cannot listen well.

I need your messages, for the organization and for those outside. If I speak and write accurately and convincingly, people’s ideas will change and the organization will advance. If I speak unclearly or weakly, it will all get worse. My silence is better than wrong words, so guide me, Lord. Help me to hear and to speak the truth in love.

I want my words for others to be your words for me. I know that you do most of your teaching and nurturing in my life when you are preparing me to present ideas to others. I need your Spirit to shape my thoughts so that when I express who I am as a leader, I will be your servant doing your work with your words. Speak to me, and speak through me.

Let me listen to the words of their spirits. And let me speak words from your Spirit.

Reflections

When I ask search committees or leadership seminars what they want in a leader whom they personally would follow, they invariably want a convincing communicator and often forget that they also want to be heard and respected. Communication is such a dominant factor in leadership success that it is easy to mistake a great communicator for a great leader.

Like most people, I entered leadership partly on the strength of my ability to use words to influence people to do things they would not otherwise attempt. It took many years to learn the dance of collaborative leadership in which one partner leads and the other follows with a carefully rehearsed and trusting mutuality that allows enormous freedom and creativity.

The communication between the partners redefines the roles of leader and follower. We move to the floor only when both of us are ready. I lead only where my partner is willing to follow, and my partner anticipates and supports my lead. We depend on each other, aware of how easily we can look foolish from a false step. When we become fluent in the same dance language, simultaneous shuffling becomes delightful art.

The transformation of a corporate culture includes a transformation of its words, the learning of a new dance of communication. Jesus Christ was called the Word of God. He was God’s way of speaking the truth in love, inviting us to a new dance with him.