The Flaw In Your Church Communication Strategy

“In most communication models, there’s a speaker and a listener or sender and a receiver. At our churches, many of us are accustomed to playing the role of the speaker, the communicator. Let’s do what we can to wear the other hat as often as possible. When we do, I bet we’ll learn a lot about what’s working, what’s not and why. I bet we’ll be inundated with ideas for new strategies, new channels and new messages. Frankly, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise — many of our best ideas come when we decide to listen.”

— Scott McClellan (@ScottMcClellan), “Never Trust A Skinny Chef,” from Outspoken: Conversations On Church Communications

• Pastors and church Communications staff, how are you listening to your members and attendees?
• Worship leaders, how are you listening?
• Songwriters, what about you?

All communicators need to listen.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” – James 1:19

“To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.” – Proverbs 18:13

How To Find Holes In Your Sermons, Songs & Communication Strategy

“In most communication models, there’s a speaker and a listener or a sender and a receiver. At our churches, many of us are accustomed to playing the role of the speaker, the communicator. Let’s do what we can to wear the other hat as often as possible. When we do, I bet we’ll learn a lot about what’s working, what’s not and why.”

— Scott McClellan, “Never Trust A Skinny Chef” from Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication

• Church staff, have you ever tried navigating your building just by reading your signage, as if you’d never been there before?
• How about surfing through your church website? Can you find what you’re looking for?
• Pastors and songwriters, are your words and lyrics intelligible? Do they present the gospel clearly, even to those who don’t know it well?
• Worship leaders, can people of average singing talent follow your arrangements and sing your songs?