Shownotes
In this episode of Equipped for Purpose, host Vincent Ream discusses the cornerstone of leadership: communication. Focusing on leading with grace and clarity, Vincent explores how effective communication can inspire teams in ministry, business, and beyond. Drawing from a Christian perspective, the episode unpacks foundational principles, core skills, and actionable strategies to help leaders reflect Christ while uniting their teams around a shared purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Defining Communication: Leadership communication is the purposeful exchange of meaning through everything you say and do, including listening, to inform, inspire, and align others toward shared goals.
- The Foundation: Great communication starts with the leader’s heart and character, emphasizing authenticity and humility as modeled by Jesus.
- Core Skills: Master five essential skills—Clarity and Confidence, Empathy, Active Listening, Adapting Your Style, and Welcoming Feedback—to build trust and drive action.
- Practical Strategies: Implement eight actionable tips, from communicating often to embracing tough conversations, to enhance your leadership communication.
- Impact: Effective communication boosts morale and aligns teams, while poor communication can lead to frustration and division.
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Transcripts
Welcome to Equipped for Purpose. I'm your host, Vincent Ream, and this is the podcast
Speaker:where discipleship meets impactful leadership. Whether you're new to faith or a seasoned
Speaker:follower of Christ, this podcast is designed to help you deepen your relationship with
Speaker:Jesus, grow as a leader, and make a difference in every area of your life. Together we'll
Speaker:explore practical tools, biblical insights, and real-life strategies to equip you for
Speaker:the purpose God has called you to. Let's dive in.
Speaker:Welcome to today's episode of Equipped for Purpose. Today, we're tackling a cornerstone
Speaker:of leadership, which is communication, our focus, how to lead with grace and clarity to
Speaker:inspire your team, whether you're in a ministry, a business, or anywhere else.
Speaker:Before we really get into that, I want you to first picture a scenario where you have
Speaker:personally experienced where miscommunication led to a negative experience, particularly one that
Speaker:could have been avoided. It could have played out like this. A ministry team is gearing up for a big
Speaker:outreach event. The leader fires off an email with instructions to their team, but it's rushed and
Speaker:sounds harsh. This email left the team feeling undervalued and confused. What should have been
Speaker:a moment of unity that centered the team turned into frustration and division.
Speaker:Contrast that with a leader who's clear, encouraging words rally a team to success.
Speaker:That's the power of communication done right and wrong. Keep your scenario of miscommunication
Speaker:or even poor communication in mind as we progress through this episode, because in this episode,
Speaker:we'll unpack how you can master communication with foundational principles, core skills,
Speaker:core skills, and actionable strategies, all woven with a Christian perspective.
Speaker:By the end, my goal is that you'll have tools to improve your communication,
Speaker:deepen team understanding, and drive positive outcomes. Let's get started.
Speaker:Communication isn't just a leadership tool. It's the heartbeat of how we connect, inspire,
Speaker:and lead. It builds trust, clarifies vision, and drives change. For Christian leaders, it's
Speaker:even more a way to reflect Christ and unite teams around a shared
Speaker:godly purpose. But let's be real, it's tough. We're called to communicate authentically and
Speaker:effectively, often under pressure. That's why I want us to explore three key areas.
Speaker:The heart of communication, some essential skills, and practical steps that you can take.
Speaker:The outcome is that you are equipped with insights to lead with grace and clarity,
Speaker:no matter your context. Before we examine those three areas,
Speaker:let's try and establish a baseline definition of communication. If I were to ask 10 of you to
Speaker:define communication, I'd likely get 10 different answers. Not to say that I would get 10 unique
Speaker:answers, likely I would get a few unique definitions, and then some variations on those
Speaker:unique definitions. This isn't good or bad to see this. It's just a product of varied experience.
Speaker:Looking at this from a leadership perspective, a simple and practical way to define communication
Speaker:is to view it not just as a skill or a tool, but as an inherent part of leadership itself.
Speaker:Essentially, leadership is communication. I know that sounds cliche, but it holds a breath of
Speaker:reality because communication encompasses everything you say and do as a leader.
Speaker:Leadership communication is the purposeful exchange of meaning through everything you say and do,
Speaker:including listening, to inform, to build trust, and align others toward shared goals.
Speaker:Everything a leader says and does, this captures the breadth of leadership communication, including
Speaker:verbal, non-verbal, and written messages, words, actions, tone of voice, presence,
Speaker:and even social media posts. All of this emphasizes that you as a leader are
Speaker:always communicating, whether intentionally or not. At purposeful exchange of meaning,
Speaker:this describes communication as a purposeful and strategic activity focused on the conveyance of
Speaker:information and understanding. Effective communication goes beyond just exchanging
Speaker:information. It's about understanding the emotions and intentions behind it and ensuring
Speaker:messages are received and understood with clarity and purpose. The piece about including listening,
Speaker:this is effective communication. It's just not one-sided. It requires active listening to fully
Speaker:understand what is being said and to make others feel heard. You ought to be quick to listen,
Speaker:welcome input, and encourage bottom-up communication. It's a two-way process and
Speaker:conversational. Then that last aspect of toward shared goals, a key outcome is influencing others
Speaker:to achieve objectives that have been set and aligning efforts in the pursuit of common goals.
Speaker:Effective communication helps clarify tasks, goals, and expected outcomes. This is a practical
Speaker:definition that can be put into action right away because it highlights that every interaction,
Speaker:every action and message from you carries weight and contributes how you are perceived
Speaker:and how your team functions. It ought to be encouraging to you as a leader to be mindful
Speaker:not just of what you say but how you say it, what your actions convey, and the importance of truly
Speaker:hearing and understanding others. By focusing on the exchange of meaning and the impact on trust
Speaker:and alignment toward goals, it provides clear objectives for your communication efforts.
Speaker:Great communication starts from within. It's not about tricks or tactics. It's about your heart and
Speaker:character. Remember, leadership is communication. Every word, gesture, and tone sends a message.
Speaker:For Christian leaders, this means humility and a servant's heart modeled after Jesus.
Speaker:He didn't just speak, he connected, reflecting love and truth. Authenticity matters too.
Speaker:Ephesians 4.25 says, Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth
Speaker:with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. That's a call for us to speak truthfully,
Speaker:but we're also to balance directness with grace, speaking the truth in love. So ask yourself,
Speaker:am I leading from a place of service? Is my heart aligned with my words?
Speaker:Your team will sense it and it sets the tone for everything else.
Speaker:Let's move to the skills that bring communication to life. Again, effective communication is at the
Speaker:heart of great leadership. It's not just about delivering a message. It's about ensuring that
Speaker:the message resonates, builds trust, and drives actions. Let's gain some depth rather than
Speaker:just expanse and explore deeply five essential skills that every leader ought to master.
Speaker:Clarity and confidence, empathy, active listening, adapting your style, and welcoming feedback.
Speaker:Each of these skills brings unique value to your leadership toolkit and together they create a
Speaker:powerful framework for impactful communication. So that first one, clarity and confidence.
Speaker:This is the bedrock of trust and direction. It matters because clarity ensures that your
Speaker:team understands your vision, expectations, and instructions without ambiguity.
Speaker:When you communicate clearly, you eliminate guesswork and align everyone toward a shared
Speaker:goal like we've already talked about. Confidence, on the other hand, gives your words authority
Speaker:and inspires trust. A leader who speaks with assurance signals that they believe in their
Speaker:direction, encouraging others to follow suit. Clarity is also going to reduce misunderstandings.
Speaker:Imagine giving your team a vague directive like we need to improve performance
Speaker:without specifics and they might waste time guessing what improvement means. Clear communication
Speaker:says let's increase our sales by 10% this quarter by focusing on client follow-ups.
Speaker:This provides a concrete target and actionable steps.
Speaker:Confidence builds credibility. Confidence doesn't mean you have all the answers. It's about owning
Speaker:what you do know and committing to find solutions for what you don't. A hesitant leader can erode
Speaker:trust while a confident one, even when admitting uncertainty, instills faith. For example, saying
Speaker:I'm not sure about the timeline yet but I'll get us an answer by tomorrow. It shows both confidence
Speaker:and accountability. A practical application is you use simple, direct language, avoid jargon
Speaker:unless it's universally understood by your audience. Practice your delivery. Stand tall,
Speaker:maintain eye contact, and speak at a steady pace to project confidence.
Speaker:You can test clarity by asking your team to repeat back key points after a meeting
Speaker:and adjust if there's confusion. 2. Empathy
Speaker:Building bridges through understanding. This matters because empathy allows you to
Speaker:connect with your team on a human level, understanding their emotions, perspectives, and
Speaker:needs. It's like a glue that fosters trust and loyalty, creating an environment where people
Speaker:feel safe to share ideas and concerns. It goes beyond sympathy. Empathy isn't just feeling sorry
Speaker:for someone. It's stepping into their shoes. If a team member is stressed about a deadline and
Speaker:empathetic leader doesn't just say, that's tough, they might say, I can see how overwhelming this
Speaker:feels. Let's figure out how I can support you. This is also going to strengthen relationships.
Speaker:When people feel understood, they're more likely to collaborate and stay engaged.
Speaker:Empathy turns a group of individuals into a cohesive team, especially during challenges
Speaker:like change or conflict. A practical application here could just be acknowledging emotions first
Speaker:by saying simply, I can tell this has been frustrating for you before jumping to problem
Speaker:solving. You could also ask open-ended questions like, how are you feeling about this? That's
Speaker:really going to uncover some deeper insights. In tough conversations like giving feedback,
Speaker:you want to balance empathy with honesty. You could say, I know you've been working hard
Speaker:and I wanted to help you refine this area. 3. Active listening
Speaker:This is more than just hearing. Active listening goes beyond hearing words. It's about grasping
Speaker:the full meaning behind them and showing respect for the speaker. For you as a leader, it ensures
Speaker:you're informed, it builds trust, and prevents missteps based on incomplete information.
Speaker:Contrast that with passive listening, which is just waiting for your turn to talk. Active
Speaker:listening is fully present, processing the speaker's tone, body language, and intent.
Speaker:It's the difference between nodding absentmindedly and saying, let me make sure I've got this right.
Speaker:When you listen actively, you signal that the speaker's input matters. You're giving
Speaker:respect and validation. This can turn a disengaged team member into an active contributor.
Speaker:You can apply this using techniques like summarizing. By saying something like, so
Speaker:you're saying the workload feels uneven. Did I get that right? You can also ask clarifying
Speaker:questions. What do you mean by tight resources? Just in a way to dig deeper. You want to avoid
Speaker:interruptions. Let the speaker finish, then respond thoughtfully. Show your listening with
Speaker:nods of small affirmation like, I see. That fourth skill, adapting your style.
Speaker:This is the art of flexibility. Every audience and situation is unique, and a one-size-fits-all
Speaker:communication style is going to fall flat. Adapting your approach ensures your message
Speaker:lands effectively, whether you're rallying a team, coaching an individual, or addressing a crisis.
Speaker:A motivational speech to a large group might need energy and broad strokes, while a one-on-one
Speaker:requires a personal, nuanced touch. In a crisis, a calm and decisive tone reassures,
Speaker:while a brainstorming session calls for openness and enthusiasm. You need to know your audience.
Speaker:Technical teams might appreciate data-driven details, while a creative group might respond
Speaker:better to storytelling. Flexibility keeps your communication relevant and engaging.
Speaker:Some practical application for adapting your style could be, just before speaking,
Speaker:consider who's listening, what's the goal, and then adjust your tone, your pace, and language
Speaker:accordingly. For a formal event, you'll want to use some structured language, and for a casual
Speaker:check-in, keep it conversational. Just be experimenting and observing. Note what works
Speaker:with different people, and refine your approach over time.
Speaker:Okay, the fifth and final skill I want to talk to you about is welcoming feedback. This is all about
Speaker:embracing growth. Feedback is a mirror that reveals your blind spots and a roadmap for improvement.
Speaker:Leaders who embrace it show humility and a growth mindset, while fostering a culture
Speaker:where everyone feels safe to speak up. It should be a gift, and not a threat. Yes, negative feedback
Speaker:can sting, but it's an opportunity for you to grow. A team member saying,
Speaker:your updates are hard to follow, isn't an attack, it's a chance to sharpen your skills.
Speaker:Isn't an attack, it's a chance to sharpen your clarity. When you then act on feedback,
Speaker:you encourage your team to do the same, and this creates a cycle of improvement and trust where
Speaker:ideas flow freely. So invite feedback proactively. You could say, what could I do better next time
Speaker:after a project or meeting? You want to listen without defensiveness. Say thank you for sharing
Speaker:that, even if you disagree, and then reflect before responding. But most importantly in
Speaker:applying feedback is following through. If feedback highlights a valid issue,
Speaker:make visible changes to show it's valued. These five essentials, clarity and confidence,
Speaker:empathy, active listening, adapting your style, and welcoming feedback form a backbone of effective
Speaker:leadership communication. They enable you to connect with your team, inspire action,
Speaker:and build a culture of trust and growth. Mastering them is going to take practice,
Speaker:but the payoff is a stronger, more unified team ready to tackle any challenge.
Speaker:Now, no discussion of communication would be complete without at least touching on channels.
Speaker:And first, written communication, like emails, works for details, but it struggles with tone.
Speaker:Ever misread a blunt message? Oral communication shines here. Whether in person or on a call,
Speaker:it conveys grace, encouragement, or correction clearly. Proverbs 15.1 begins by saying,
Speaker:a soft answer turns away wrath. Tone matters. Sometimes start with writing for clarity,
Speaker:but then follow up orally to set the right vibe and clear up confusion. For Christian leaders,
Speaker:this builds empathy and unity. When the tone is key, go verbal. It's worth it.
Speaker:Remember, and always keep this in mind, people hear differently. So how you make sure your message
Speaker:lands? You could restate, just recap key points to lock them in. You could ask for feedback,
Speaker:let your team weigh in or ask questions. And you could use back briefs, have them repeat
Speaker:what they heard to confirm alignment. After spending two decades in the military,
Speaker:I can tell you that all three of these are used and they are all effective because not everybody
Speaker:is going to hear and retain information in the same manner. And so in those differences,
Speaker:restating, asking for feedback, having your team do back briefs, this is going to hit with different
Speaker:people and help whatever you're communicating to stick with them. Clarity here empowers your team
Speaker:to act with confidence. It's about intent and outcomes. Get it right and they'll thrive.
Speaker:So if you're ready for action, here are eight tips to level up your communication. One,
Speaker:communicate often. Keep the info flowing to avoid gaps. Two, you can prepare well.
Speaker:Know your audience and context. It shows that you care. Three, keep it simple. Cut the fluff,
Speaker:be direct. Four, read nonverbals. Adjust if you see crossed arms or nods. Five, use stories.
Speaker:Make your message stick with visuals or examples. Six, guide the flow. Use transitions to keep
Speaker:everyone on track. Seven, face tough talks. Tackle conflict head on with care. Eight,
Speaker:involve early. Give buy-in before plans solidify. At the first hint of miscommunication, talk it out.
Speaker:It's a chance to reconcile and grow. Communication isn't just you, it's your team's culture.
Speaker:Set clear expectations so everyone knows the game plan. Then take feedback seriously. Listen,
Speaker:act on it, and show you value their voice. This builds trust and openness,
Speaker:creating a space where ideas flow and unity grows.
Speaker:So take a minute, pause and reflect. Ask yourself, do I learn orally or in writing?
Speaker:Does it convey grace and truth well? How do I receive messages? Are others getting
Speaker:mine differently? What's one step I'll take to improve, honoring God and my team?
Speaker:And how can I seek God's wisdom in this? Growth takes effort. Seek feedback,
Speaker:tweak your approach, and keep learning. And then just know that integrity seals the deal.
Speaker:Your words and actions must match. Consistency builds trust. Admit mistakes,
Speaker:follow through on promises, and respond with grace. For Christian leaders, this mirrors
Speaker:Christ's character and strengthens your credibility. Strong communication does transform.
Speaker:It boosts morale, aligns teams, and fuels success, especially in Kingdom work for Christian leaders.
Speaker:Poor communication? It tanks morale, misses goals, and hurts relationships.
Speaker:The stakes are high, but the rewards are higher.
Speaker:So to wrap it up, lead with a humble heart, master skills like clarity and empathy,
Speaker:and use practical steps like frequent, simple communication. Align your words with actions
Speaker:and keep growing. As Christian leaders, this isn't just skill building, it's becoming more
Speaker:like Christ. So take these ideas, try them out, and seek God's guidance. And lead well, friends.
Speaker:Thank you for tuning into Equipped for Purpose. I hope today's episode gave you tools and
Speaker:inspiration to deepen your discipleship and strengthen your leadership. Don't forget to
Speaker:subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you found value in today's content,
Speaker:share it with someone who could benefit. Let's connect on social media and through my website,
Speaker:and remember, you are being equipped for a purpose. Go make an impact.
