You Can't Buy a Voice
Sometimes people will comment to me about my “radio” voice, and I usually respond that you can’t buy a voice...so I understand it is a gift from God. Having said that, we all can do things to improve our vocal production and use in order to be more effective communicators, whether you are on the radio or speaking to groups of listeners.
In Valerie Geller’s book Beyond Powerful Radio, she has a chapter on improving this “instrument” that God has given us. Some of the insights are very practical and simple.
- Drink a lot of water. Almost all experts agree...stay hydrated.
- Stand up in front of the microphone instead of sitting. That is what I have done for most of my years in radio. Much more energy that way.
- Relax. This comes from being prepared.
- Breathe deeply.
- Speak from the diaphragm. This, and the above tip, also help to preserve the voice.
- Avoid milk, carbonated drinks, etc. Hot tea can be a help before you go on the air.
One of the more interesting things Geller shares is that what may appear to be a voice problem may be something else entirely. She says it may be the copy that is being read.
[blockquote author="Geller" link="" target="_blank"]Often people who’ve been told they had voice problems really just had delivery problems caused by poor writing. One client thought she had breathing problems. She was shocked when I told her any broadcaster would have a breathing problem reading her long, convoluted sentences.[/blockquote]
So what type of writing helps broadcasters and speakers sound better? Quoting a publication by Mervin Block, here are some of the suggestions from Geller’s book.
- Keep it simple. If you can use a simpler word, do so.
- Avoid big words, wasted words, odd words, fancy words, or clichés.
- Don’t use long, complicated sentence construction.
- Write like you talk.
One other practical tip. Don’t speak beneath your natural pitch. Many announcers try to sound more authoritative by lowering the pitch of their voice. I had a voice therapy specialist show me how to arrive at a better speaking pitch. She asked me to speak with a low pitch. Then, move my voice pitch up about three musical steps. That is a more comfortable range for the vocal chords to work. It takes the pressure off the vocal chords and allows your voice to function longer without being worn out. She likened speaking in too low a voice to driving a car in the wrong gear. It makes the engine work overtime and can wear it out...and the same is true of your voice.
Yes, God didn’t give each person the same gifts, and that goes for our voices, too. But we can all work to improve the voice that the Lord has given us to be better at the job He has for us to do in His kingdom work.
What if your best...isn’t good enough?
We have all been there. We try. We give it our best effort. We want the best. But when we are finished with our efforts, the results are rather lacking. I remember as a young boy wanting to assemble a small model of a fighter plane from a plastic kit. All the parts were there in the box, along with glue, decals, paint...everything needed to make a realistic replica that looked just like the one on the front of the box. I tried...I really did. After a day or two of labor, I ended up with glue on my fingers, paint on my clothes, and a model that barely resembled reality. It was probably the first and last time I ever tried it.
You may have a similar story from your childhood. While an interesting memory, it hasn’t been a big deal. But what about today? What about the job to which the Lord has called you? What happens when you try...really try...and your best comes up short? What then?
My “read through the Bible” plan took me to Haggai today. This short book is primarily messages that God gave to the people through His prophet Haggai. God told his people it was time to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. He had told them that the reason things weren’t going well in their land is that they were paying more attention to themselves than to their Lord.
[blockquote author="Haggai 1:9 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.[/blockquote]
In chapter two, God does an inspection of the rebuilding work, and has another message for the people. Through his prophet, God tells them their work doesn’t measure up.
[blockquote author="Haggai 2:3 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all![/blockquote]
I’m sure the people tried to do it right. I don’t doubt they wanted to reap the reward the Lord had offered, to replenish their land and provide bountiful harvests. But their best came up short. Those words must have stung the people.
Judy and I were blessed many years ago when a builder friend said he would build us a home...if we would work with him. I helped to dig the foundation. Judy helped hang wallpaper. We both helped stain the wood and paint the walls. It was hard work but rewarding.
But I remember the day my builder friend took me to look at my painting work on one wall. He pointed to it and said, “This may be your home soon, but you are working for me. Do it over again!” Ouch. I thought I was doing my best. And when my friend showed me the problems, it hurt. Then this master builder, who built million-dollar homes as well as our very humble place, stood by me and showed me the right way.
God did that for his people in Haggai’s day. The Lord told the leaders and the people to be strong. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up or give in.
[blockquote author="Haggai 2:3-4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised .... So do not be afraid.[/blockquote]
When we labor for the Lord in our own strength, in our own wisdom, we come up short every time. Somehow, we don’t really believe what Jesus said... “Without me you can do nothing!” Yet, when we are serving the Lord and we lean upon Him for direction and strength, He is there. It’s His unchanging promise.
I am with you...My Spirit remains among you.
Now...go and work, labor and build, and see how the Lord Jesus will bless you when you lean upon Him.
What if...?
A simple question. What if? It is a question that has no doubt launched products, companies, inventions, causes, and many big opportunities. What if…?
Bob Biehl is a well-known and highly acclaimed executive mentor. He speaks into the lives of leaders of major corporations and ministries. And sometimes the things he presents are simple, yet they carry great potential. Like the question, “What if…?”
In a recent post from Biehl he listed some of his favorite “What if” questions. See if any resonate with you for the leadership position you hold.
"What if -- we had to start over from scratch ... what would we do?"
"What if -- we were to grow to ten times our current size ... what would we need?"
"What if -- we could remove our single greatest roadblock ... what would we do?"
"What if -- we had unlimited resources ... what would we do?"
"What if -- we knew we couldn't fail ... what would we do?"
What questions would you add to this list for your ministry or organization? What if…God were to bless you to move on your “What if?” question…to do something you had not done before? To accomplish something that lines up with the calling the Lord has on you and your ministry?
What if…?
Let me add a few questions of my own.
“What if --the Lord had my full attention to His leading in my life?”
“What if – I started each day asking the Lord what His priority is for my life?”
“What if – we understood that God is looking for servants? How would we lead differently?
Dr. Richard Blackaby is following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Henry Blackaby, by giving spiritual insight to some of America’s top CEO's. To these leaders, Blackaby says, “He [God] is looking for servants (Isa. 59:16; Ezek. 22:30). When God finds people who are willing to be molded into His servants, the possibilities are limitless.”
What if...we took God at His word...and acted on that?
What if...?
Like Getting a Scholarship!
How would you like to go to college or graduate school and have someone else pay the price? Most of us would snap that up in an instant. It is great to learn, but even better to learn on someone else’s nickel...or drachma...or rupee...or... you get the idea.
Life is often referred to as “The School of Hard Knocks.” And there is a price to pay for our stumbles in life. While we can learn from our own mistakes, our own failures along the way, there is a better way.
For a life-long learner like you, this is good news. The Bible even talks about it as a great strategy. Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, commented on this concept in a devotional from their radio/TV ministry, Pathway to Victory.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]An important principle about learning from our failures is this: learn on someone else’s nickel. It is good to learn from your failure. But it is better to learn from somebody else’s failure. Failure is like tuition we pay for a college course. Wouldn’t it be great to have somebody else pay that fee? That is what the Bible says we can do. We can profit by learning from other people’s failures.[/blockquote]
Dr. Jeffress goes on to use the example of Solomon found in Proverbs 24. The wisest man who ever lived was walking and saw the field of a sluggard, an obviously lazy man. Rather than just complain or put the person down, Solomon set about to learn from what he observed. And what he saw was a field that was overgrown with weeds and vines and whose wall was broken down from lack of attention. What did Solomon learn?
[blockquote author="Proverbs 24:32-34 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.[/blockquote]
Someone else paid the price, and Solomon gained the life lesson.
I wonder how many times we observe something around us and simply complain or overlook the potential educational opportunity. We often, as parents, look for “teachable moments” for our children. We help them learn a lesson from their own failure. But how much better if they...or if we...can learn from the mistakes of others? The late American humorist Sam Levinson put it in perspective:
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.[/blockquote]
Now, with eyes wide open, let’s go to school!
The 18-Minute Wall
We often hear about attention spans being shorter and shorter. While I don’t automatically buy into that supposition (people will sit with a friend for hours and talk), there is a limit to what we can impart to an audience.
You may have occasions to talk to staff, volunteers, donors, or others interested in your ministry and work. It would serve you well to know about the 18-minute wall.
In his book The Articulate Executive author Granville Toogood tells of a study done by the U. S. Navy in the 1970s. They wanted to see how long sailors would listen to instruction or lectures and retain what they heard. The results of the study...18 minutes!
Most of us don’t have the ability to limit our speeches and messages to just 18 minutes. So, what do we do to insure the audience absorbs what we are saying? Toogood has some suggestions.
1. Use Q and A’s (questions and answers) in your presentation. The author suggests going about 15 minutes and then opening the floor for questions.
2. Use another speaker. You may be able to bring in another person on your staff who works in the particular area you are discussing, or who serves in another capacity related to your topic. They can speak for 2-3 minutes and clarify or amplify a particular area for the audience.
3. Show a tape. If you can highlight and give an overview of your ministry, your area of interest, it will refresh the audience and also give them a better picture of what you are doing. Remember...a picture is worth at least a thousand words.
4. Tell a ministry story. Tell an anecdote every few minutes...a recollection of something in your life, or something you have seen on TV or in a movie that relates. On this point the author uses Billy Graham as an example, and the well-chosen illustrations that Dr. Graham used to vividly back up the spiritual points he was making. Toogood wrote that Graham’s points were “... not just scattered or used randomly but are linked to one clear theme...in this case, redemption and salvation.”
When I teach or hold media seminars, I have to be careful that I don’t just drone on and on. Sometimes we feel we have a lot of information to share and a limited time to get it all in. If we remember the 18-minute wall and plan for the limitations of the audience, we can be more effective in our presentation, our leadership, and in sharing the story of God’s work through our ministries.
Say YES to No!
I remember those years. Good things were happening in ministry. Others were excited about what they saw. And requests would come in to do this, speak there, meet with these folks, lead this workshop, serve on this committee...and on and on. Most of the time...I said YES. It was as if the word “no” wasn’t in my vocabulary.
To be honest, I haven’t progressed too far down the road, but I have learned there is nothing wrong with saying no to something that is not a priority. It isn’t easy. And it is even harder to do without guilt when it is a good friend or colleague who is asking.
Recently, my friend Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth helped me better understand the whole concept of saying no in a devotional from her book, The Quiet Place. Your own to-do list is usually augmented by the to-do list others have for you...especially if you are in leadership.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]There will seldom be enough time in a twenty-four-hour day for you to do everything that is on your to-do list. For sure, there will never be enough time for everything that is on everyone else’s list for your life! You can’t spend time with every person who wants to talk, read all the books you’d like, and tackle every project you’re interested in....[/blockquote]
So, what is the secret? How do you prioritize things that all seem like a priority? The answer is in the life of Jesus. He didn’t do everything others wanted Him to do. He didn’t heal everyone, feed everyone, calm every storm, or raise every dead person to life. What was Christ's guiding principle? Jesus did what His Father had for Him to do. He had God’s to-do list...His priority. In Jesus’ high priestly prayer to His Heavenly Father found in John 17, the Lord said,
[blockquote author="John 17:4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.[/blockquote]
Did you see that? Jesus said He did what His Father gave Him to do. Great insight for us today.
There will be many demands on you, your time, your talent, your knowledge, your energy. Which among them is God’s will for you? Which ones are obviously part of the Lord’s plan for you? More importantly, which ones...though good things to do...are NOT in His will for you? Setting the parameters and priorities according the Lord’s plan will make saying “no” a bit easier. As Nancy Wolgemuth says,
[blockquote]All you have to do is the work God assigns to you. And believe it or not, there is always time (and grace) to do everything that is on His to-do list for you.[/blockquote]
Hmmm...I think I may still need to work on that in my own life these days.
Watch what you're saying!
There is no way around it. If you lead, you speak. While you may not have to give a long oratorical speech or bring a Sunday sermon, you still find yourself standing before others sharing vision, strategy, and overall mission for your organization. Often it is in relation to your ministry or organization when it comes to funding. And, to be honest, many leaders don’t spend enough time in preparation for the opportunities they have to speak.
In his book, The Articulate Executive, Granville N. Toogood (yep, that’s his name) gives some great insight into how to prepare for those opportunities that come our way as leaders. After listing some incredible world and corporate leaders and their accomplishments, Toogood says they all possessed what he calls the three C’s.
1. Competence – You have to be at least fairly good at what you do. And you also have to have a few extra skills handy: computer skills...and maybe a working knowledge of marketing and financial services.
2. Clarity – You’ve got to be able to see beyond the job, have some historical perspective and a knowledgeable overview, understand trends, and be able to project fairly accurately into the future. You have to be willing to acknowledge and embrace change. Many call this having a vision.
3. Communication – This is the element most often lacking in the equation...the element that says you’ve got to be able to share your knowledge and information, even your vision, with other people. The only way you can ever be a leader is to learn to speak effectively.
Toogood gives five key elements that will help any presentation.
1. Strong start
2. One theme
3. Good examples
4. Conversational language
5. Strong ending
You could spend a lot of time on each of these points but let me just expand on the first one...a strong start. I have been guilty of starting a message rather softly, building up slowly to what the presentation is about. A better way is to start with the ending. Use the conclusion...where you are headed... in your opening. It nails down where you are taking them, and lets the audience know what you are wanting them to understand or learn.
So rather than say, “It‘s great to be with you today. We have a really good ministry. And lots of people are listening every day...” you could start with something like, “Traditional radio remains a powerful tool. But every day more and more people are turning off their radio and turning on their smart phone. While we must maintain our position in traditional broadcasting, we cannot ignore how a new generation is receiving their information and entertainment.”
Direct. To the point. And then you build your case and share your vision.
I remember how the Apostle Paul spoke to a less than friendly audience on Mars Hill at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. As he addressed the curious Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, Paul quickly got to his point.
[blockquote author="Acts 17:22-23 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.[/blockquote]
Your communication skills may not be all you would like them to be today. But if you are willing to work and prepare, you can be the leader the Lord has called you to be...for His purpose...His will...His ministry...and His glory.
Where are our tears?
I’m writing this under conviction. It is as much to me as to you. The question, “Have we lost our tears?” impacts me personally as I look at my spiritual life and the things that concern me most.
A favorite Old Testament book of mine is Nehemiah. There is so much in the story of the cupbearer to the king who became God’s leader for his day. So, when my long-time friend, Dr. O. S. Hawkins came out with another one of his “Code” books (The James Code, The Daniel Code, The Jesus Code), I took note to see what God might have for me today. The new book is titled The Nehemiah Code: It’s Never Too Late for a New Beginning.
You remember Nehemiah’s story. The Israelites had been exiled. Only a remnant remained in Jerusalem, and the enemy took advantage of that, tearing down the walls of the city of David, making the people more vulnerable to attacks. Nehemiah was in exile, too, but his heart was with his people in Jerusalem. He sought out people who could tell him what was happening there. And what he learned impacted him greatly.
[blockquote author="Nehemiah 1:4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.[/blockquote]
Dr. Hawkins lists several things of note that Nehemiah did upon learning this tragic news.
He made an honest evaluation of the situation.
He identified with the need of the people.
He mourned, fasted, and prayed.
And he did one more thing.
Nehemiah wept.
I grew up in an era when churches sometimes had all-night prayer meetings. They were marked by passionate prayer...and tears. I have read of more recent outbreaks of God’s spirit. They are characterised by fervent prayer, confession of sin...and weeping.
So, I have to ask myself as I ask you...where are the tears today? Where is the passion for the will of the Lord in our world, our culture, our lives, our family, ourselves? Where?
Most of us want to be seen as strong leaders. We want others to look to us to draw insight and wisdom. We want to be seen as a powerful person in the Lord’s army. Weeping seems weak. And as a leader, we don’t want to be weak.
What did the Apostle Paul say to the Corinthians?
[blockquote author="2 Corinthians 11:30 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.[/blockquote]
O. S. Hawkins says that Nehemiah recognized his inability to do anything on his own. Yet he was so overwhelmed by the need, he knew he must do something. In The Nehemiah Code, Hawkins says,
“The more I have studied the process of rebuilding, the more convinced I have become that one never rebuilds until he personally identifies with the need and weeps over the ruins. We live in a culture that seems to have lost its tears.
“Nehemiah did what all godly leaders must do: he drew strength from outside himself, from His Lord.”
Godly tears equal passion. And without passion for the things you see around you, you will most likely never see your goal accomplished.
As I understand it, the objective is not “tears.” The objective is such a deep passion for the Lord...His will and His ways...that we immerse ourselves completely in accomplishing the Lord’s plan...in His strength, even to the point of tears.
What do Others see in you?
Remember the old question? If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The possible answers to that question have been debated for years. I have another question for you. If someone never heard your testimony, but watched how you worked, would they know you were a Christian?
We are so success oriented in our world today that we think we are judged by what we attain, our level of success. God is more interested in the process we are going through in our spiritual journey than He is in our level of achievement.
I was watching an interview with Dr. Henry Blackaby about a monthly phone forum he had with top CEOs in the United States. He said several things that caught my attention. Blackaby talked about our character determining the assignment the Lord has for us.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]He (God) is concerned about our character…and He will be developing your character.... He will never give a large assignment to a small character.[/blockquote]
Architect, film producer, and author Raymond Harris has just released another book, Business by Design. It’s based on his study of Jesus’ parables and their application to running a business or running a ministry or nonprofit for that matter. Harris writes that through his study of the parables he has learned who he should be.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]I am to be a person of righteous character who is rich in good deeds, and I am to do the work of Christ on this earth by being His hands and feet.[/blockquote]
There’s that word again. Character. In spite of what we see in politics, in the public marketplace, or even sometimes in the pulpit, character does matter. And in many ways, it is by your godly character that people come to recognize there is something in you that makes you different. It is how you treat others. It is in your genuine love for those around you. And it is evident in your main goal...to please God and not man.
Some might say, “Yeah, but the Christian world isn’t the real world today.” That is exactly right. Raymond Harris underscored that in his book.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]The world’s economy operates only in the physical world into which you were born; you naturally believe it to be the most real. God’s economy operates in the spiritual world that is unseen by your eyes; it calls you into a greater and more enduring reality...a reality that the physical can never provide.[/blockquote]
So, you are in a leadership role. Maybe the head of a business, nonprofit, ministry, or charitable organization. What is your purpose in being in that position? Again, Henry Blackaby has some insight.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Your position is not so you will be recognized by men, but so that you will be used by God.[/blockquote]
Does the person who does business with you suspect something different about you? What about your staff? Can they see and even experience God’s love flowing through you to them? God wants to use you for His purpose, to accomplish His will in the lives of those around you.
Are you living a life of godly character so that the Lord can give you the next assignment He has for you?
Vision in the Midst of the Mundane
I have often said that on many days, ministry just seems like work. No mountain top experience. Just mundane activities and tedious things to do. What carries us through days (or weeks) like that? I am convinced that it is the overarching vision and passion that God gives to His leaders.
Moses had some amazing moments with the Lord. Talking to a burning bush. Seeing miracle after miracle before Pharaoh. The waters parting. Manna from heaven. Water from a rock. Miraculous moments.
Yet in between these high points for Moses were many tedious days he had to endure. Tough days. Contentious days. Disappointing days. How did Moses keep going? I believe it was the vision and promise the Lord gave him, and Moses’ passion to serve the Lord with his whole heart.
My friend Dr. Ramesh Richard reminded me recently that God doesn’t give a vision to a committee. He gives it to individuals who are faithful to His call on their lives, and it is their responsibility to live and work in light of that vision. And...to pass the vision on to others.
Oswald Chambers in his daily devotional book My Utmost for His Highest wrote about vision and how we can hold on to what God has given us even in the struggles of life.
[blockquote author="Oswald Chambers" link="" target="_blank"]If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all up with the vision God has given. The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for God’s highest, and this can only be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings.[/blockquote]
The apostle Paul in his testimony before King Agrippa was able to declare,
[blockquote author="Acts 26:19 (KJV)" link="" target="_blank"]...I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.[/blockquote]
So how do you keep that godly vision when you are slogging through the muck and mire of a mundane (or worse) day? How do you inspire others to work and follow the “heavenly vision” that drives you?
Many organizations and corporations print up the vision statement, mount it on the walls, and ask their key leaders to memorize it. These are efforts to make sure that when difficult days come, the vision will keep the business or ministry on track and moving forward toward its goal.
Writing for Entrepreneur magazine, Andre Lavoie presented some steps to ensure that everyone in your organization understands and operates in accordance with the vision.
- Reinforce the company vision by tying it to team and individual goals.
- Promote the company vision by always making sure it’s visible.
- Share success stories that realize the company vision.
These are good reminders for our ministries and Christian organizations.
Again, Oswald Chambers spoke of the challenges facing a leader as he lives and shares God’s vision.
“It is essential to practice the walk of the feet in the light of the vision.”
Are you having one of those mundane days? Here are some steps to take:
- Revisit the vision God has given you.
- Recommit to His will and His way.
- Reveal to those who serve with you how the Lord is using and blessing the vision for eternal purposes.