The process of inter personal communications is vital for any pastor. It is hard to imagine the capacity to achieve any worthwhile function without a developed capacity for communication. A good communicator is one whose message is received, understood, and embraced, or at least engaged. Poor communication takes place when the communicator believes the responsibility to communicate ends with the delivery of the message. This has application at every point of communication from one on one, to small group, to preaching.
- Able to identify the variety of means of, and opportunities for, communication – oral, body language, gesture, large group, small group, one on one, formal, informal, etc.
- Understand clearly the difference between hearing (aware of what is being communicated) and listening (engaged empathetically with the content of the communication).
- Be able to articulate contextual, including cultural, impacts upon communication.
- Being able to observe and identify limiters to effective communication in others.
- Being able to identify limiters to effective communication in themselves.
- Articulate the importance of clarifying key message components so as to remove extraneous or redundant information.
- Demonstrate awareness of emotional charged words and phrases.
- Clearly understanding and identifying shame laden messages.
- Have the capacity to identify key audience factors that empower or mitigate the message.
- Know and articulate the difference between being message focused and receptor focused. It is possible to be so wrapped up in the importance of delivering the “message” that the importance of the message being received is lost.