5 Mistakes Made by Leaders When They Speak

copied from Dr. Thom Rainer's blog

Many of the failures in leadership are failures to communicate well. No matter how smart we are or how good our strategies are, they are doomed for failure if no one understands them.
In previous articles, I dealt with poor written grammar, so much so that some of my friends refer to me as “the grammar cop.” In this article, I deal with five of the more common communication mistakes made by leaders when they speak.

1. Poor grammar. Grammatical mistakes are not limited to written communication. They are much too common when leaders speak as well, including some leaders who are highly educated and in positions of great influence. The most common speaking grammatical error that I have noticed in recent years is the incorrect use of reflexive pronouns. For example the reflexive pronoun “myself” is used improperly in this sentence: “The award was presented to Janice, John, and myself.” The correct pronoun is the non-reflexive “me.”
2. Too much information. An audience can only absorb a limited number of facts in a given presentation. Some leaders attempt to cover a multitude of items, leaving the hearers bored, confused, and frustrated. Speak to the essential issues and provide supplementary written material if necessary.
3. Too many visuals. PowerPoint and other visual aids can be either a help or a hindrance to a speaker. Too often leaders try to put too much information in visual aids. At that point the aid becomes a barrier to communication. Consider having no more than one visual aid for each three minutes of speaking. You might be surprised how much the retention of your listeners improves.
4. “Insider” language. Acronyms should be banned from speaking presentations. At my organization we have one acronym for every molecule that exists in our building. Those who are on the inside may think it’s okay to use acronyms with other insiders. The problem is that the pattern of speaking develops into a habit that will creep into external presentations. Indeed, good speakers avoid acronyms and insider technical words unless they are clearly explained to the audience.
5. Insufficient pathos. Aristotle divided the means of persuasion into three categories. Ethos is used to establish the credibility or character of the speaker. Logos means persuading by reasoning or logic. Pathos means persuading by appealing to the readers’ or hearers’ emotions. Too few speakers attempt to speak to the hearts of the audience through personal illustrations, humor, or captivating stories. As a consequence, the presentation is often deemed dry and boring, regardless of the quality of the content.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR VBS TRAINING: Regional VBS Training Conferences - http://gabaptist.org/contentpages.aspx?parentnavigationid=7526&theparentnavigationid=4896&viewcontentpageguid=58658d80-0148-496b-bd39-a0a831b76eb1

FOR EDUCATION LEADER TRAINING: Go Forward Conference, March 14-15, 2013, FBC/Woodstock - http://sundayschoolinhd.org/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Experiencing God: the documentary prescreening simulcast, March 12-14; http://www.lifeway.com/Event/lifeway-film-event-experiencing-god-pastors-only-screening

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Secret Church with David Platt, March 29, 2013; studies on Heaven, Hell, and the end times – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Secret-Church-Simulcast-with-David-Platt?type=events

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: The Gospel According to Jonah by J.D. Greear - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-according-to-jonah-a-new-kind-of-obedience-leader-kit-p005558798

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God by Margaret Feinberg - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/wonderstruck-awaken-to-the-nearness-of-god-dvd-leader-kit-p005515840

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: All Pro Dad small group study by Mark Merrill - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/all-pro-dad-seven-essentials-to-be-a-hero-to-your-kids-dvd-leader-kit-P005520634

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  'The Main Event' men’s conference, July 26-27, Nashville, TN featuring 18 speakers including Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson, Coach Bobby Bowden, Dr. Tony Evans: http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/The-Main-Event?type=events

Six Insights for Leading Lay Volunteers

by Dr. Thom Rainer

One of the greatest blessings in churches today and throughout history is the number of men and women who gladly and often sacrificially give of their time and energy to do ministry in local congregations. Indeed, churches across the world would not function as they do without the giving spirit of these lay volunteers. Paid staff alone are not sufficient to do all the work of ministry in any church.

Simultaneously, one of the greatest challenges for leaders in churches today is the recruiting and retention of these lay volunteers. Indeed I have had several conversations with church leaders who have seen significant successes and blessings with the mobilization of laity in their churches. I am particularly grateful for the insights given to me by Jess Rainer of Grace Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and Eric Geiger, who recently served at Christ Fellowship in Miami.

These two men, as well as several other church leaders, shared similar stories about their challenges and victories in lay mobilization. In this post, I share with you six insights I gleaned from several leaders who have been successful in recruiting and retaining lay volunteers.

1. Training is critical. In one of our recent studies, almost all the pastors surveyed affirmed the importance of training lay volunteers. Sadly, the same study showed that only about one-fourth of those pastors had any strategy for training volunteers. Training creates ownership that results in motivated and giving volunteers. I am excited that LifeWay will introduce in just a couple of months a new and incredible resource to help churches across the world train their laity effectively and inexpensively.
2. Affirmation should be ongoing. Most lay volunteers don’t get involved in church ministries for the attention or the affirmation. But when leaders affirm their work, it communicates to the volunteers that their work in ministry is important. People want to know they are involved in something that makes a difference. Affirmation gives them that very message.
3. The relationship between the laity and paid church staff should always be a partnership. Church leaders should continuously communicate that all work of ministry is a co-laborship. There is no organizational hierarchy where the laity submits to the church staff. One group does ministry as a calling and vocation. The other group does ministry as a calling and unpaid service. Both are vital in the life of the church.
4. The form of communication with laity is critical. As much as possible, vocational church leaders should spend face-to-face time with lay volunteers. They should learn how those volunteers like to communicate. For some, a text message is fine. For others, they want to hear a live voice. But all of them need some personal interaction with the paid church leaders.
5. Start lay volunteers with bite-size responsibilities. Don’t overwhelm them with a task or ministry that appears daunting. See how they respond to smaller, well-defined tasks at first. From that point, leaders can discern if the volunteers can take on more ministry responsibilities.
6. Communicate with clarity and specificity. Many lay volunteers quit out of frustration because they think their assignments are neither clear nor specific. Don’t assume volunteers have the same level of insights or knowledge as those whose daily work and responsibility is at the local church. It is better to over-explain and to be redundant than to assume the volunteer has significant prior knowledge about the ministry assignment.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR EDUCATION LEADER TRAINING: Go Forward Conference, March 14-15, 2013, FBC/Woodstock - http://sundayschoolinhd.org/

FOR ONLINE TRAINING: Ministry Grid; online subscription plan for leadership development - http://www.ministrygrid.com/

For Ongoing Bible Study: Relaunching of Bible Studies for Life coming in September – look at all of the new enhancements to help you 1) Connect with the unconnected, 2) Strenghten families, 3) Deepened discipleship - http://www.lifeway.com/article/bible-studies-for-life-fall-preview-2013

Preview 3 FREE Sessions of the NEW Bible Studies for Life: http://www.lifeway.com/n/Bible-Studies-for-life/sign-up

FOR CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM: Discipleship in Context can provide a short term or ongoing Bible studies that are customized to your church’s culture and focus - http://discipleshipincontext.com/

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Follow Me by David Platt - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/follow-me-bible-study-dvd-leader-kit-p005541500

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Secret Church with David Platt, March 29, 2013; studies on Heaven, Hell, and the end times – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Secret-Church-Simulcast-with-David-Platt?type=events

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Bible Study Insider preview kit; see the latest studies and tips for effective small group ministry - http://biblestudyinsider.com/

DOWNLOAD THE LIFEWAY FREE E-READER - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Books-&-Magazines/eBooks?emid=Product-PastorsToday-ReaderApp-20130204

READ “FOUR REASONS TO REMEMBER THE SABBATH” - http://www.lifeway.com/Article/facts-trends-winter-2013-leading-on-fumes?emid=CW-PastorsToday-20130128

5 Spiritual Disciplines for Effective Bible Study Leaders

Adapted from an article by David Francis

There are five disciplines that every effective Sunday School leader needs to practice:

 1. Continuous Preparation

The Sunday session always goes better when you start preparing early in the week. That may mean simply reading the scripture passage on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, and perhaps glancing at the teaching materials, especially the teaching aim. By putting the passage and aim in your mind, you’ll become more sensitive to illustrations the rest of the week in the things you read, the people you encounter, and the experiences you have. And sometimes, in the stuff you buy that can aid your teaching of the lesson.

2. Connected Teaching

First you need to be connected to the Spirit’s leadership as you stand before your class on Sunday mornings. Be sensitive to His leading in how to present your Bible study lesson in a way that will be lived out in the lives of your students throughout the week. Then you need to connect to your class members. Know their learning styles and preferences and use teaching methods and aids that keep them connected to your lesson.

3. Consistent Prayer

Effective teachers know the spiritual needs of their class members and regularly pray for them. Make a notebook — or just get a spiral one — and make a page for each member. Keep a list of the needs in each one’s life. Note advances in their spiritual walk.

4. Concerned Ministry

Respond to your members in times of crisis. Occasionally try to see them face to face away from the class. Call or send a note on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.  Remember anniversaries of events other than marriage — loss of a job or getting a new one, a successful surgery or the beginning of physical therapy, moving into a new home, the birth of a child or the death of a spouse, etc. This kind of thing doesn’t just happen. It requires spiritual discipline.

5. Concerted Outreach

Be intentional in your outreach and be a role model. It is also important that you take along other leaders to show them how it’s done. Invite a group leader to accompany you on a visit to a prospect. Don’t just tell them to do it; show them how it’s done!

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR EDUCATION LEADER TRAINING: Go Forward Conference, March 14-15, 2013, FBC/Woodstock - http://sundayschoolinhd.org/

FOR GREETER MINISTRY: Ten Ways to Make Visitors Feel Welcomed - http://www.lifeway.com/Article/facts-trends-winter-2013-first-impressions

FOR CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM: Discipleship in Context can provide a short term or ongoing Bible

studies that are customized to your church’s culture and focus - http://discipleshipincontext.com/

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: All Pro Dad simulcast, January 26, 2013 with Tony Dungy, Clark Kellogg, Tommy Bowden - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Adult-Event-All-Pro-Dad-Simulcast

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Secret Church with David Platt, March 29, 2013; studies on Heaven, Hell, and the end times – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Secret-Church-Simulcast-with-David-Platt?type=events

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: How Can I Know? Answers to Life’s 7 Most Important Questions by Robert Jeffress - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/how-can-i-know-answers-to-lifes-7-most-important-questions-leader-kit-P005511206

FOR SMALL GROUPS: The God Anthology by Mark Batterson - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/god-anthology-dvd-leader-kit-P005539341

FOR BIBLE STUDY: Re-launch of Bible Studies for Life interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd - http://www.lifeway.com/Article/facts-trends-winter-2013-bible-studies-for-life