Are you boring?
We live in a communication world. We have never been more connected, yet we often struggle with being understood, being clear, being relevant, or being influential with the greatest message ever proclaimed. Is the message of Christ out of step with our culture? Do we need to change it? Or do we need to better understand the communication process in today’s busy world.
My university teaching is usually on a topic that most college students think is out of date. Radio. Yet by the end of the semester they have come to realize why radio continues to have a powerful role in our culture today Sure, we don’t sit around the radio as a family in the evening listening to radio dramas. New technologies and our modern-day lifestyles have shifted the way we use radio.
The students also discover that many of the principles for effective radio have a broader application, encompassing the communication process in general.
Radio specialist Valerie Geller lays out many of these principles in our book, Beyond Powerful Radio. Here are a few of the points that Geller uses as she consults with clients all over the world.
1. Tell the truth.
2. Make it matter.
3. Never be boring.
4. Speak visually, in terms your audience can “picture.”
5. Address the individual as “you.” Talk to one person at a time.
6. Be who you are.
7. Take risks
8. Dare to be great.
Number two is critical. When we share spiritual truth, we need to be sure the audience knows it is important. It matters. Number five is important, too. For radio in particular, the use of “you” in your conversation and the understanding of the intimate medium of radio will link you in amazing ways to the listeners.
I especially like number eight. When our purpose is right, and our message is based on God’s Truth, we can and should aim for excellence in our presentation. There is no good reason to be second best in presenting biblical truth. We should strive to be the best communicator around.
As I mentioned earlier, many of these principles and suggestions will also help us in our day-to-day communications. Speaking visually is important, using language that paints pictures for the listener to “see.” Think of the stories of the Bible, the stories and parables that Jesus told. We can often pull up visual images that help enhance the stories and help them stay with us.
I can see in my mind the rather small man named Zacchaeus as he climbed up in a nearby tree to get above the crowd with hopes of seeing Jesus as he passed by. Even without the help of Hollywood movies, I can see the agony of Christ on the cross. If I say “Noah,” do you see his ark?
The stories of the Bible are not boring. And neither should we be boring as we share the greatest story mankind has ever heard... that the God who hung the stars in place sent His son to be born as a baby in a smelly animal stall. Jesus would live a life of impact on all around Him, and then die on the cruelest of all methods of punishment ever devised...the cross. We can picture him there. And we see the rock tomb where Jesus was buried, with its big stone blocking the entryway. Such a powerful, visual story.
Let’s sharpen our communication skills. Someone today needs to hear the most important news in our world. And you are the one who may need to deliver it.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
In 1967 soul singer Aritha Franklin had a massive hit song that spelled out the title over and over.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
It continues to reverberate on radios, in cars, in arenas and music halls. Somehow it struck a chord with people. It seems everyone wants respect.
Leadership guru John Maxwell, in his classic book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, named respect as one of the top qualities of a leader. Maxwell says people naturally follow leaders who are stronger than themselves, no mater what the leader’s background or education level may be.
John Maxwell goes on to list six ways a leader gains the respect of others.
1. Natural Leadership Ability – Yes, some people are just born with great skills and abilities to lead others. Yet every person, no matter where they start, can improve their ability to lead others. However, it doesn’t end there. You need more than just a great personality to be a true leader.
2. Respect for Others – Good leaders understand that all who follow leaders do so voluntarily. The principle is simple. If you show respect for others...especially those who may have less power or lower position...you gain respect from others.
3. Courage – Maxwell says good leaders do what is right, even at the risk of failure and in the face of criticism. A leader’s courage gives followers hope.
4. Success – People respect other’s accomplishments. It’s hard to argue with a good track record. Those who follow want to be part of success in the future.
5. Loyalty – This goes against the grain in our culture today, from top athletes to top CEOs. People hop from place to place and follow the money. Someone has said the average US worker will change occupations ten times by the time they reach age thirty-six! Amazing. So, against this backdrop, loyalty becomes a virtue. As Maxwell puts it, “When leaders stick with the team until the job is done, remain loyal to the organization when the going gets rough, and look out for followers even when it hurts them, followers respect them and their actions.”
6. Value Added to Others – When a leader adds to the value of those who follow them, they gain respect. And it is a respect that continues even beyond the job and the relationship has ended.
The Apostle Paul, a great leader himself, had some additional advice to the Christians at Philippi on how to improve their ability to lead others in the faith.
[blockquote author="Philippians 2:3-5 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.[/blockquote]
You gain respect by respecting those whom God has placed in your realm of influence, and by seeing yourself and others as God does. The natural result will be that others will want to follow you as your give leadership with the same attitude and heart that Jesus showed.
Intrigued by intrigue...
A while back we introduced the concept of “disruption” to our media vocabulary. It’s a word that seeks to give a sense of urgency to our need to capture the attention of a lost world who largely doesn’t care about the things of the Lord. They don’t think they are lost, so they are not interested in being saved. We somehow need to disrupt their world in a way that opens their heart and mind to the things of the Lord.
I grew up in an era when people in America just “went to church.” A little promotion went a long way in bringing people to a place where they could learn of a loving God who had a specific plan for their lives...a plan to bring hope and joy in this world and the promise of eternity with Jesus. Today, we have so many distractions it is hard to get attention.
I also grew up in an era of about three television stations and a handful of radio stations in each market. It was expensive to own a radio or TV station, so there weren’t many in each market. And, therefore, it wasn’t hard to promote programs or reach an audience. Limited outlets meant limited options for the audience.
Fast-forward to today. In this digital age our media outlets are limitless. Online radio, IPTV, YouTube channels...the list is endless. So how do you promote or disrupt your potential audience to drive them to your programming...to drive them to God’s Truth?
Intrigue.
It sells books and movie tickets. People like intrigue. And we need to both understand that and use it as a tool to promote our important message. Matthew records Jesus’ words to his disciples about the day they lived in, and the need for them to be wise in their dealings with their culture.
[blockquote author="Matthew 10:16 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.[/blockquote]
The Expanded Bible gives us alternative words to use in place of “clever.” Wise...shrewd...cunning. And to me that speaks of the creative ways we need to intrigue our potential audience. Let me give some examples that can work on radio, television, online, social media, or other platforms.
You have a guest to talk about Easter. How do you promote it? You can say “Join Pastor Smith as he talks about the Holy Week and the importance of Easter...coming up next.”
Or...
“An innocent man is executed, and authorities are in an uproar. We have details on this amazing story just ahead.”
In her book Powerful Radio, Valerie Geller talks about giving a radio host the challenge to “make a movie” as a unique way to promote his talk show topic. The host had a noted author and expert on autism on the program. At Geller’s prompting, here’s how the talk show host began:
“Suppose you are on a train in Japan. You don’t speak Japanese. The conductor is talking to you. The other passengers are talking to you. The signs don’t make sense. It is total confusion to you. You have just entered the world of an autistic child.”
Wow. Powerful. Compelling. Intriguing. Disrupting.
Having an outlet for your programming is not a challenge any more. Disrupting your potential audience and getting them to listen...that is today’s challenge. Be wise, clever, shrewd, even cunning in your creative efforts to reach your culture with the life-giving Good News of Jesus.
Seeing the Champion in Others
The visiting speaker, Tom Mullins, made a statement that got me thinking. This former coach and now pastor challenged us to see the “champion” in another person...and to call out that champion for Christ and for His service.
In the busyness of leading others, we sometimes miss opportunities to encourage others to be all that God has designed them to be. For Tom Mullins, it was a high school football coach who told him, “You have great potential, but you have to work at it if you want to get to the next level.” And he did, for God’s glory.
I thought about my early high school days. I wasn’t among the cool guys. I didn’t play sports. I didn’t take part in student government. And I wasn’t in the honor societies because of my academic prowess. Nope. Not cool.
But a man who had sung in opera and musicals professionally and who was now producing Broadway musicals in our city asked me to try out for a position. Mel Dacus had agreed to produce a major talent show for young people at the wonderful Casa Mañana theater. It was called “Stairway to the Stars,” which featured amazing talent, some of whom made their way to Broadway, Hollywood, and network television. Mr. Dacus asked me to emcee the production.
I was astounded.
I was nervous. I remember the evening, the lights, the music, the various acts, the audience...and somehow, I made it through my first public effort in being a presenter. For the life of me, I don’t know what Mel Dacus saw in me at that age, but it was a big part of what set the course for all that God has had for me through these decades.
Is there a “champion” around you whom you need to encourage? Is there someone on your team who could go to the next level if someone...like you...would challenge them to step out and step up?
I think of the Apostle Paul and the way he built up young Timothy, giving him assignments that were likely beyond his initial ability to perform. Yet Paul saw a “champion” in Timothy and challenged him to step up for Jesus. In I Timothy chapter 4 Paul calls out the “champion” in his young mentee.
[blockquote author="I Timothy 4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus... (v. 6)
...train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. (v. 7, 8)
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (v. 12)
[/blockquote]
Look around. Who has the Lord placed in your path to be called up to a higher level in service to Jesus? A Champion...just waiting for your challenge.
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.
