Are You Being Clear?

I used to grow frustrated every time we held an event or meeting and no one would show up.  I thought the announcement was clear.  We had date, time, and location.  What else could someone need?  I began to grow frustrated and made assumptions like:

• Parents do not care.
• Teens are selfish with their time.
• Volunteers are not as sold out.

Those assumptions were unfair.  The reality was that my message was not clear. 

Courtesy of nasikabatrachus/Creative Commons License

As a leader you need to be sure that what you communicate is being received and absorbed.  While you might feel as if you are doing that, you never can be too sure.  That is why you need to be clear on what you are communicating.  Never assume you are being clear because you could be making a mess of the situation.  That’s because you are:

• Using Insider Language: There is lingo you’ll develop over the time of your tenure.  It’s helpful when communicating with fellow staff and volunteers; however, to the outsider it’s a foreign language.  Make sure you never rely on those terms and that you are ready to explain them to a new person.  Create a glossary of terms and make them available to anyone who needs them. 

• Assuming Once Is Enough: Make sure you repeat your message over and over and over again.  Share it in different mediums and never assume that saying it once is enough.  Even if your platform is reaching thousands, you’ll need to repeat.  To make sure people are clear you need to repeat what you want them to know and do.

• Saying Too Much: Many times our messages can get lost in too many words.  Before you communicate make sure the bottom line is clear.  In other words what is the one thing you want them knowing?  Again, repeat it and use different ways of drilling it home.  A clear message is one that is focused.  

The reason people may not do what you want them to do, or know what you want them to know is because you aren’t being clear.  Take the time to look at your communicating strategy.  Fine tune it, tweak it, adjust and own it.  When you are clear, you are will be sure to get your point across.

Who do you feel like isn’t getting your message? Pastor, parents, volunteers, or teenagers?