How to Improve Communication

Explaining “how to improve communication” in a short article is about as challenging as explaining “the meaning of life” in the same amount of space. Even so, five key points rise above the others:

If you can integrate these five principles, then you will see a dramatic increase in the impact your communication is having on others. Is there more to know about how to improve communication? Absolutely! But first, make sure you are applying these principles.

Now, these principles may appear elementary and basic, but then again, first impressions are deceiving. Let’s look at how to improve communication using the first principle: telling your class, within the first two minutes, why they should listen. I can’t tell you how many teachers spend the first two minutes of their lesson like this:

Good morning. I hope everyone is awake. If you need to refill your coffee cup, feel free to do so. Mike, thanks for making the announcements this morning. If you have your Bible, please open it to Ephesians 6:4. Oh, and let’s thank Mary for bringing the snack today. That was delicious. Anyway, today we are going to look at what Paul has to say about fathers exasperating their children. Has anyone found the verse yet? Would someone like to read that for us?? While you are finding the passage, let me make one other quick announcement?…

I realize that beginning with this type of small talk is a fairly common way to begin a lesson, but it is a habit worth breaking. Once the lesson begins, your first job is to capture your listeners’ attention so they stop thinking about everything going on in their life along with all of the announcements and prayer requests that have just been given. However, if your introduction includes small talk and additional announcements, then it simply interjects new distractions and gives your listeners even more to think about. Instead of redirecting their attention toward the lesson, the small talk distracts them even further.

Now, I’m going to give you a communication principle that may appear to contradict conventional wisdom, but here it goes: I believe the primary goal of the introduction is NOT to introduce the lesson! It is not to introduce the topic, the passage, or anything of the like. Rather, your primary goal in the first few minutes of the lesson is to create within your audience a huge desire to listen to the remainder of the lesson. If your introduction can get them to stop eating their donut and drinking their coffee, it’s done its job and you’re ready to move on. You first need to tell them WHY they should listen, then you’ll have the rest of the lesson to tell them WHAT the Bible says about the topic they are now interested in hearing about. How do you improve your communication? Simple . . . make sure everyone wants to hear what you are about to say!