Question: What is the one “ability” that every person in ministry should never stop developing?
Answer: “Communication!”
“Whew! Thanks Ken. I think I’ll write that down.”
Question: How many really great communicators do you know?
“Um, give me a minute Ken. Um.”
Answer: YOU could be one of them!
Question: Who beside ministry persons need to develop their speaking skills?
Answer: Teachers, professional communicators, bloggers, leaders, sales persons, writers, and anyone who has something to say and wants to say it with confidence and power.
Question: What two Skills do all great communicators have in common?
Answer:
I have listened to thousands of speakers and read hundreds of books. Yet, I can count on both hands and one foot the number that impacted my life. Those speakers had two skills in common that made their presentations unforgettable. The first skill of great communicators is this:
1. They are Focused and Crystal Clear. They have a singular objective for their talk.
Over 75 percent of the people who listen to a sermon or a talk, have NO IDEA what the speaker was talking about. They may remember an interesting story or a point or two but haven’t got a clue as to the objective of the talk.
That isn’t the sad statistic.
Over 50 percent of speakers cannot express the ultimate objective of their talk. They know all the things they want to say but cannot articulate WHY they want to say those things.
Over a hundred years ago my favorite author on preaching said this….
(The parenthetical emphasis is mine.)
“I have a conviction that no sermon (or talk) is ready for preaching, (or being presented) not ready for writing out, until we can express its theme in a short, pregnant sentence as clear as crystal. I find the getting of that sentence is the hardest, the most exacting, and the most fruitful labor in my study.”
-John Henry Jowett The Preacher His Life and Work Page 133 1912 George H Doran Company
No person in ministry should be without Jowett’s book. No speakers from any walk of life should ignore the wisdom in his writing.
The second skill all great communicators exhibit is this:
2. They are Dynamic and Engaging. Their delivery makes people want to listen.
Why is it, that in normal conversation we are animated and passionate but when we stand up to deliver we become diminished?
Why don’t we make our presentations with the same passion that we use when talking about the performance of our favorite sports team at the last game we watched?
How do we bring those same dynamics to the platform? If you don’t look like you believe it no one will believe you believe it.
These two skills, focus and dynamics, are like the oars of a boat. If you use only one of them you end up going in circles. But if you learn how to apply both you can actually make it to a specific destination and people will even want to get in the boat with you.
My team has authorized me to offer a $200 dollar discount to anyone who registers using the code word – DAVIS. I personally guarantee to cheerfully refund your money if we do not present material that can help you develop these two skills along with other skills that will catapult your ability to prepare with focus, deliver with confidence and speak with power.
I will arrange to have breakfast with those who register using code word DAVIS where we can chat about anything you want. The conference is 75% sold out so Register today. I look forward to meeting you.
P.S. You can leave your fishing rod at home. It’s not a real boat!
Comments
Thanks Ken – Scorre helped me do these things!
I am reading “Secrets of Dynamic Communications” now – super helpful!
Great read, thanks.