Kingdom Style Team Building - Communication

According to the dictionary, communication is defined as the imparting or exchanging of information.

Communication is something that we all engage in daily. Whether verbal, non-verbal or written, it is the primary way we give and receive information person to person. From the time we are born we communicate, as best we can, in an effort to have the recipient understand what we are trying to relay to them. Although we all do it every day, all day long, communication turns out to be one of the most complex interactions between human beings. In fact, communication can be impacted by a laundry list of things.

A few factors that impact communication include:

Emotions	Upbringing	Culture
Language	Perceptions	Environments
Misunderstanding	Mode of communication	Body language
Physical barriers	Education	Clarity of message
Tone	Grammar	Trust issue

These are just a few things that can impact communication; the list can go on and on. Therefore it is necessary to make effective communication a top goal in developing a productive and efficient team.

The bible teaches us that there is power in our tongue and that how we use it greatly impacts outcomes in our lives. Similarly, these same impacts can be seen in organizational teams. If communication between individuals is toxic or not effective, then it is reasonable to assume that outcomes and impacts will be negative.

Here is a list of 4 things to create effective communication amongst a team using Kingdom principles.

1. Effective Communication requires truth and honesty –

When communicating we should always be truthful and clear in what it is we are trying to say. Sugar coating is not an effective way to communicate as it can falsify the information being relayed and decrease credibility of the sender of the message. Additionally, honest communication gives the recipient accurate information so that they can make educated and informed decisions.  Communicating truthfully also allows the delivery of information that may bring clarity to problem solving needs and allow confident solutions.

The bible tells us in Ephesians 4:15, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church”.  Paul is admonishing us here that when we speak the truth we grow in every way. While swallowing the truth isn’t always easy, it can yield productive progress.

2. Effective communication requires effective listening –

Effective communication is a two-way street. The recipient and sender of the information must be willing to swap roles during the exchange. Active and attentive listening is just as important at communicating with truth and clarity. When we listen attentively, with patience, we allow ourselves to receive the message being delivered effectively. Active listening means we are not only hearing what is being said but we are also seeking to understand the meaning and intent of the message being delivered. When we understand what is being said, we can offer better more considerate responses in dialogue.

The bible tells us in James 1:19 “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry”. We are taught that it is more productive and effective to listen first before you say anything. The word listen is a verb, meaning to hear something with thought attention. It is important that we don’t just perceive sound when communicating but actively listen to the message being relayed. 

3. Effective communication helps to manage conflicts and builds positive work environments-

Conflicts typically result from some sort of disagreement, however participation in communicating effectively can foster amicable disagreement. Both the sender and receiver of the information must be willing to avoid conflict at all cost and make valiant efforts to hear out the message being delivered while feeling comfortable to honestly deliver their message. When amicable communication efforts are made, there is a decrease in negative responses and thereby building more positive environments.

The bible teaches in Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” And Romans 14:19 tells us “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up”.  We learn here that when we are delivering a message to let it be marked by kindness and courtesy and be pleasing to the recipients of the message. It’s not always what you say but how you say it that can determine the outcome of the response. Therefore, make great attempts to be kind and courteous when communicating with others. 

4. Effective communication invokes more productive and engage team members-

When communication is effective from a 360 degree perspective, team members tend to feel a sense of connectedness and drive to engage more. Knowing how to communicate with others, with respect and compassion, will encourage the same behavior in the recipient; thereby creating effective 360 degree communication. When we choose our words carefully it not only impacts what we say but how it is received and reciprocated.

The bible tells us in Provers 16:23 “ From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.” Communication can definitely follow the cliché “you catch more bees with honey”. Oftentimes just change how you say something can change the entire trajectory of a conversation. Additionally, using wisdom when speaking yields an atmosphere of productive solutions and fair outcomes.