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MinistryTech.com • September 2015
MINISTRY LEADERSHIP munication.” tently listening and steering 2. Never think your communication is done. If you’ve been According to the “Building conversations toward real relationships, you’ll be leading a leader for long, you probably Disciples Through Engagement” by example. Ask other leadunderstand this point far too guide, this “relational communication,” as it has been deemed, ers to do the same. Together, well. You can’t say something does four very important things: you’ll build a community of once and expect it to stick well-connected and meaningwith everyone. You need to • Builds real life relationships ful relationships. continually remind people of • Enables people to know and what’s important. Thankfully, digital tools make effective be known communication very inexpen• Provides opportunities to take sive and also make it easy to action mobilize other people to dis• Moves people from the margins to the center tribute your communications for you. There’s no need to do Best Practices for Digital all the work yourself. Usually Communication you just need to ask people to “Good communication is help you accomplish the set good communication, no matter goals. how you slice it. So, don’t be in- 3. Invite people to interact. timidated by that one little word: Interaction is no longer an option, it’s a necessity. The digidigital. The things that make you tal tools available today give an effective communicator elsewhere are still of value. There are, you an amazing opportunity however, some unique challenges to invite people to join a conversation. While it might iniand opportunities in the digital tially seem like more work, the world,” according to the authors return is far greater than the of the ministry guide, “Building investment. Your interaction Disciples Through Engagement.” and sincere listening will help So, follow these few best practices to help you avoid common create an engaged community. You’ll probably discover pitfalls and enable you to make gifts and abilities you didn’t the most of your communication realize people had, and you efforts. Provide opportunities might just learn from others 5. for meaningful action. A 1. Focus on the mission. Don’t along the way too. church social network makes put the focus on methods, be- 4. Cultivate meaningful recause methods are disposable. lationships. The speed and it easier for you to delegate responsibility, without sacrificGet to the heart of the matter. simplicity of digital communication can sometimes lead ing accountability. So, rather Jesus has given your church an to overuse and misuse. As a than feed the impulse of coneternally meaningful mission. sumerism, give people opporleader, it’s your job to show Be sure to explain why your tunities to get involved. It can the way and help people unchurch needs a private social derstand the methods being be as simple as sharing stories network and keep the focus on used to reach the destination. of the everyday, informal minhow it will help your church istry happening within your By asking good questions, inaccomplish the mission.
As a leader, it’s your job to show the way and help people understand the methods being used to reach the destination.