Communication Challenge

One of the key components of effective leadership is communication.  If you can’t communicate, you can’t lead!!!  Now, I’m not just talking getting up in front of people and giving a speech, because effective communication is so much more than speech giving.  It’s listening, body language, etc…., but if you can learn to at least get out of your comfort zone, stand up in front of people and give a speech, it will definitely help in interpersonal communicative leadership.:)

So…….tonight at Epic we’re having our first ever communication challenge with our Epic Men’s Mentoring Initiative.  Gonna have a blast.  I’m challenging the men to become better communicators, and this is one of their first steps.  Here’s a little sneak peak of what the men have to do this evening.

#1.   One, 30-second “commercial” on any topic. Not 29 seconds and not 31 seconds. I’m looking for really funny, but they don’t have to be.

#2.   One, 18-minute (maximum) speech (15–18 minutes is the range).

* The men have to concentrate on delivery over content. They have  to select a Bible passage of their choice, but choose one that is very familiar to them. They wont select a scripture that they have to do research on, or that requires a great deal of explanation just for the listeners to understand.  They’re to pick a passage that is straight forward and that they have passion about. The focus of this exercise is more about communicating truth rather than discerning truth. Both are important, but I’m focusing on the former. (I’ll save exegesis and hermeneutics for another time!:)

*  The men have to prepare a three-hole-punched, note-taking outline for each of the men participating.

*  They also have to include application in their presentation. In other words, what do they want the guys to do? How do they want their lives to change? What action are they attempting to bring about at the end of their presentation? They have to give practical “to do’s” as part of the application.

*  Maybe over the top, but each man has to deliver a dramatic reading of the Gettysburg Address. This is their chance to be a star! They don’t have to memorize it, but they need to know it very well. The purpose is learning to read well in a public setting.

Marriage expert Norman Wright wrote a great book years ago, entitled, “Communication Key To Your Marriage”.   If communication is key to your marriage, you better believe that effective communication is also imperative & non-negotiable in your leadership.  I’m by no means an expert in the area of communication, but I am a student, and want to grow better in this area.  Why?  Because, God has called the church to advance, and it needs, healthy, life-giving leaders, that can communicate effectively.  I’m called to “Equip”, so that is exactly what I’m doing.  Are you interested?

Read “You Are The Message” by Roger Ailes.  It will challenge you, and push you to become a better communicator.  Lead on!!

PS – All men will be video taped tonight – No pressure!!!:)

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