What next level communicators understand about notes.
What next level communicators understand about notes.
Few things diminish a communicator like being dependent on notes. As Wayne McDill says, “Paper is a very poor conductor of electricity” (The Moment of Truth, page 145). Or as Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs points out, “The paper isolates you from your listeners and prevents the contagion from spreading; the paper weakens the flow of magnetic force” (Preaching as Reminding, page 120). What both Mcdill and Arthurs mean by “paper” is notes. Want to stunt your effectiveness as a communicator? Be tied by a very short leash to your iPad, computer screen or “paper”. I cringe every time I see someone try to move an audience while they stand behind their laptop, having literally erected a barrier between them and the people.
I want to offer you an easy fix. And no, I’m not suggesting you abandon notes altogether. My goodness, I don’t. Instead, if you do these three things, you’ll see an immediate jump in your ability as a communicator. But before I get to that, let me tell you why it’s crucial you become less dependent on your notes.
For some time, we’ve known of the power of nonverbal communication. We say way more than what we say. Our gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and so much more, impact our audience in ways we can’t imagine. Consider the presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy. Did you know that the majority of viewers rated Kennedy as the winner, while those who listened to the debate on radio said Nixon won? What was the difference? Nonverbal communication. Those who saw the debate were struck by Kennedy’s confidence, as he looked straight into the camera; while Nixon looked at the questioner while he wiped sweat from his brow, appearing shaken and shady. As important as this debate was to one of the closest presidential races in history, a case could be made that JFK won on nonverbal communication.
Standing behind a screen, looking constantly at your notes limits your ability to persuasively convey your ideas to the audience. It’s time to lengthen the distance between you and your notes, and unleash your effectiveness.
Here are three things I do to keep myself as free as possible from notes:
Minimal notes. If you’re a detailed note person, I want to encourage you to pare them down by at least half. I always take about 1-2 pages of notes with me on my iPad. These notes are developed from my manuscript which I never try to memorize, just internalize. But here’s the key- my notes are always color coded by points. For example, if it’s in my first point, the key words/ideas will be highlighted in red, the second point in green and the third in blue. This color system allows me to find my place quickly, and pull the info I need, while maximizing my nonverbal communication. I highly recommend some color coded system which makes sense for you, because you will lose your place and will need help quickly finding where you are.
A clear mental path. Every communicator needs to establish and stick to what I call a clear mental path. Here’s what I mean: Whenever I write and deliver that message, my points all follow the same pattern of explanation, illustration and application. This is not only helpful from a structure perspective, but also critical to me being as free as possible from my notes. I know, for example, when I’m giving an illustration in one of my points, that my very next movement will be into application. I never, and I mean never, waver from this. So find your structure, your flow of thought paradigm, and stick to it. You will find this to be incredibly freeing, as you get more and more comfortable away from your notes.
Internalize/Practice. Every time I write a sermon, I read it several times. In my younger days I could read the manuscript three times and that would be enough. Now with an aging brain, I need about six times to feel good. Right before I go to sleep the night before my talk, I will summarize each paragraph in my mind, and move quickly to the next (maybe this is why it’s so easy for me to go to sleep!). Then early Sunday morning, I will do a light run through of the message, and then pray over each paragraph. This pays huge dividends in emancipating me from my notes. But let me caution us: Too much rehearsal will leave us rigid in our presentations…mechanical. The whole point is to be free, not bound.
Next level communicators use cheat codes.
Next level communicators use cheat codes.
People who are truly great at something tend to make what they do look effortless. Think Steph Curry shooting a basketball, or Whitney Houston singing. While it’s true that hard work is a major factor to their success, the best of the best also use cheat codes. Yeh, Michael Jordan put in a ton of practice, but he also talks about reading the feet of his defender, and how that bit of information led to a lot of baskets. We call this a cheat code.
Everyone should have insider information, unknown to most, which helps us achieve sustained greatness. No, I’m not talking about cutting corners, or being unethical. Just discovering and utilizing techniques to accelerate your progress.
When it comes to communicating, here are some of my cheat codes:
Always know your next thought, so you’re free to chase unscripted thoughts. The best communicators are like jazz musicians, who have the faith to veer off the page and improvise, because they always know how to get back to the script. Structured spontaneity is what I call it. We preachers call it following the Holy Spirit. Preacher or not, there will be moments where you will feel surprised at what connects with your audience, and the urge to linger at that spot will wash over you. You’ll only do this if you know your next thought. Cheat code.
Everything on the big screen is always on my little screen. If you’re like me, there are key points and quotes which will show up on the big screen. I’ve had to learn the hard way, there will inevitably be moments where the technology fails, or the production people went on a smoke break, or to the potty. So it’s always good to never have to depend on the big screen.
Airplane mode and other digital stuff. I really could do a whole post about the digital blunders I’ve experienced as a communicator. Let’s see, we could talk about the time I didn’t turn on airplane mode on my iPad, and notifications about the economy, weather and my flight being delayed kept popping up. Nightmare. I could also talk about how I did turn on airplane mode on my iPad, but not on my iPhone. Even though my phone was on the front row, my smartwatch kept buzzing while I was speaking. Sometimes I just wish we could go back to the nineties! Secure your technology…that’s the lesson.
Read something simple. This is one of my best cheat codes. Whenever I prepare a message, I will spend plenty of time in the “deep end of the pool”- you know, doing scholarly study on the original language of my text, chasing rich theological themes and so on. Real heady stuff. I’ve also found reading an author who has written a book to the masses on my subject is one of the most fruitful cheat codes. Authors like Max Lucado, Margaret Feinberg and Kyle Idleman (just to name a few), have a way of simplifying the deep themes I’ve studied, and coloring the concepts with vibrant illustrations, which helps me to simplify the message. If I could give you just one cheat code to try, take this one and you’ll see immediate results.
Invest in Dropbox, or something similar. It’s a communicator’s worst nightmare: You’re sitting at a conference, and the speaker right before you has the audacity to teach on your exact text/subject. Yep, that’s happened to me. So what am I to do? I go to the bathroom stall, take out my iPad, click on Dropbox, where I scroll through my library of presentations as the sweat gathers on the screen. Twenty or so minutes later, I’m out of the stall, back in the auditorium and (kind of) ready to go. Thank you Dropbox (or Google Drive, or whatever).
Don’t have Logos? Get it…now. If teaching the Bible makes up any percentage of your communication, drop everything right now and get Logos. They just moved to a subscription model, and it’s way cheaper than it's ever been. They are the best bible study software on the planet, and please don’t tell me you’ve found one better, because I can assure you, you haven’t. Okay, very important. Let me give you a cheat code for this cheat code. Logos is going to overwhelm you with the amount of resources it has. When you open up Logos, I want you to picture yourself with a fishing rod walking down to a huge lake. When I would go fishing with my dad, all I wanted to know was show me the hot spots. I never thought about fishing the whole lake, just a really small, productive portion of it. That’s how I want you to view Logos- it’s a huge “lake,” and find your spots. What’s my spot? Simple. Everytime I open up Logos, I click on my passage, hit the passage and exegetical guides, and off I go. There’s a little more to it than that, so maybe I’ll do a post and get a marketing deal with the company!
What I’m Reading:
Just finished, The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead.
My Summer Reads
My Summer Reads
“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them”- Mark Twain.
Because there’s a relationship between next level communicators and the commitment to lifelong learning, once a quarter I thought it would be helpful to share the ten latest books I’ve read. So far, I've finished thirty books, while Korie (my wife) announced she had just finished book thirty-two. In case you’re wondering, I started this competition and I’m not sure if I can catch her. Anyways, here’s my latest, and please let me know what’s been some of your faves this year:
Educated: A Memoir, Tara Westover.
I know I’m late to the party on this one, and given how brilliant this story is, I truly regret waiting so long.
The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told, Mark Paul.
Definition of a beach read. I could not put this book down and finished in a day. Surely, someone will turn this into a film.
Here’s a public speaking cheat code: If you are ever looking for great illustrations, head on over to Amazon, type in, “Max Lucado,” and find a book he’s written which aligns with your topic, and you’re guaranteed to find a few move-to-the- edge of your seat stories.
Talk about a story which should be a film, this one actually was. Remember the men who were trapped in a Chilean mine a few thousand feet beneath the surface? This is their tale, and I loved every bit of it.
And how did I hear about Deep Down Dark? Kyle Idelman- one of my favorite communicators- referenced it in his book on faith, Don’t Give Up. Remember what I said about Max Lucado? Same for Kyle.
Sister, Sinner, Claire Hoffman.
This biography on the most famous female Christian leader of her time- Aimee Semple McPherson- will leave your head spinning, as you try to figure out if her faith was authentic or an act. If you are in vocational ministry like myself, this book serves as a cautionary tale for how easy it is to be drawn away by the bright lights of fame.
The Cross Before Me, Rankin Wilbourne.
I love Rankin, and like most people, was introduced to him through his book, Union with Christ- one of the very few books I make it a habit to re-read. He has a way of writing with great clarity, the complexities of faith and our walk with God. I left inspired.
Contentment: The Secret to Lasting Calm, Richard Swenson.
Richard Swenson is a follower of Jesus who is also a medical doctor. If you haven’t read his book, Margin, don’t let 2026 end without doing so. If I had to make a list of the top ten most impactful books I’ve read in this century, Margin would be near the top. I was drawn to Contentment, because, I mean, who couldn’t use a little more contentment in their life, right?
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, Belle Burden.
Belle’s painful story of divorce has gained a wide reading. Really good. Really hard.
I’ve known Scott for years, and have even been honored to endorse one of his books. When I learned he was releasing another project, I jumped at the chance to pick this up. His subject is as old as the gospel, but hey, we can never learn too much of grace and mercy.
Okay, so I’m looking at my list and thinking I have to get my fiction game up. So for you lovers of fiction, what you got for me?
Hope your summer is going well.
Next level communicators build bridges.
Next level communicators build bridges.
The Latin word for communication means common. At its core, to communicate means people have and hold something in common. While this includes essentials like a common language, it equally demands effective communicators build bridges with their audience.
Almost every time someone comes up to you and says their version of, “That was a great talk,” what they are really saying is, “Your message connected with me at a deep level.”
There’s a well known scene in the life of Jesus where he sits down with a woman at a well. At first sight it seems as if this exchange will go nowhere given the barriers between them. One is a male, while the other female (significant barriers in that culture). Jesus is an embodied Jew, while the woman is a Samaritan- two races which despised one another. Then there’s the presumed moral differences, as she has a checkered past, filled with failed relationships making her the talk of town, while Jesus is a Rabbi. But come the end of their conversation the woman, along with many in her town, are transformed. How did this happen? Their chat took place at a well, where both shared the common need of water. The first words out of Jesus’ mouth is a request that she give him something to drink- a need they both had. Their exchange took place around the human drive of thirst. Before Jesus could reach her, he connected with her.
Next level communicators understand before we can reach people, we must first connect with them. I don’t care how great your message is, if you fail to connect with your audience it will at best, land flat, if not outright bomb. Take it from me and the many eggs I have laid over the years- learn to first build bridges with your audience. Connect before you reach.
The best comedians get this. As a general rule, I encourage people who desire to grow in communication to study them, and one of the things you’ll learn is their amazing ability to connect with their audience. Watch as they will typically begin their sets by talking about the city they are in, things it's known for, and how they will use that to connect with their audience. Rarely will the best comedians just launch into their set. Effective comedians understand before they can reach, they must connect.
If you are a teacher you have a head start on this, as you walk into a classroom every day with the same students. Your effectiveness has grown because your understanding of your students has grown. You know their unique wirings, giftedness and quirks, and you use this information to enhance your connection with them. The same is true for pastors and their congregation. But this can turn against you the moment you are asked to give a presentation to another group. Beware of taking what has worked over time with one audience, and cut and paste that with the new one, without doing the work of connecting. You’ll be well on your way to handing out sleeping pills to your crowd.
Over the years, I have found the following helpful in building bridges to my audience:
Build bridges immediately. The moment I get up, I am looking to connect with the audience. Like right then. If I’m in Dallas, I’ll crack a joke about their football team. If I’m in Palm Springs in the summer, you better believe I’ll say something about the weather. When I preach at my home church in a few weeks, it’s guaranteed I’ll reminisce over the good times I had there. Nothing serious on this opening bridge, just something to say, “I see you.”
Build bridges constantly. We don’t want to build a bridge, but bridges, plural. The best way to do this is to ensure our talks use way more, “We’s,” than, “Me’s,” or “I’s”. In fact, every point in my talk, I want to connect. You can also do this by intentionally using a personal story of a time you failed that is connected to your talk. It’s been said when people share strengths they compete, but when they share weaknesses, they draw close in empathy (hear the idea of connection).
The most important bridge moment. Remember we said the most critical part of our talk is the felt need, which should happen not long after the introduction. While the opening moments of our message connect with the, “eyes,” grabbing their attention, the felt need moment should grab their “hearts”. This is where we are looking to connect the central message of our presentation with the audience. Look to capitalize on this moment. For example, some time ago, a passage in the bible I was preaching had the central message of hurt. I took this central message, and built a bridge to the human experience, where everyone could relate. The difference between a message that’s just blah, and a, “this is the best message I’ve ever heard,” is often found right here in the felt need portion, where we work to build a bridge and connect to our audience.
What I’m Reading:
Here’s a great vacation read I just finished:
Next level communicators empower their audience.
Next level communicators empower their audience.
I’m writing this on my day off, which means I just returned from the golf course where I shot my best round of the year, and I have my last golf instructor to thank. Some years ago, I went to fix my awful swing. After watching me hit a few balls, he not only told me he could help, but would teach me in such a way that when the wheels inevitably fell off in the future, I would know exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing: A coach pretty much said he was going to make the complex golf swing so simple, I would never need to see him again, therefore leaving plenty of money on the table. And that’s what he did. Through his instruction, he gave me the tools to not be dependent on him again. This is what next level communicators do- they empower their audience.
John Milton Gregory gets to this when he writes, “The true function of the teacher is to create the most favorable conditions for self-learning…True teaching is not that which gives knowledge, but that which stimulates pupils to gain it. One might say that he teaches best who teaches least.” According to Gregory, great communicators aren’t necessarily the most knowledgeable, or entertaining; but next level communicators inspire and empower their audience to take the content and make it their own. This is where becoming skilled in the art of application sets extraordinary communicators apart.
Some years ago, a communicator I had mentored wanted me to listen to some of his talks. It had been quite awhile since I heard him, and so I watched a few of his messages. When we hopped on a call for my feedback, I told him how his messages were always inspiring (He’s a master storyteller), but the problem is I always leave his talks excited and at the same time not knowing what to do with what I just heard. There’s a ton of communicators like this. They tend to be amazing illustrators, whose messages are like going from mountain top to mountain top. The problem is grass rarely grows on mountain tops, but is found down in the valleys. So while the “views” I get in their talks are amazing, I don’t really leave fed and empowered to live. That’s frustrating.
You want to empower your audience with your messages, try the following:
What’s the purpose? Before you construct the talk, write out what you would like for your audience to be or do as a result of your message. This will keep you from just dumping content on them, or merely captivating them with one amazing story after another. How do you want them to change, or live, as a result of your time together? What ways do you want them to be different? Once you’ve written out the purpose, force yourself to be disciplined in your outline and delivery to make sure you come through on the purpose.
An action oriented outline. If you want to empower your audience, be sure to frame your main points as action items. In a few days I’ll be speaking at a church, and my three points are: Don’t stop witnessing. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop rejoicing. My explanations will be geared towards why those things are important, along with illustrations to inspire them towards action. My whole aim is to set the table for them to do something as a result of our time together.
The big two. Remember our introductions should capture the audience's eyes (attention), and the felt need their hearts, and our conclusions should reach their feet (actions). To get there, we need to do two big things as we close: Ask them, “Will you ______,” and show them, “Here’s how”. In a Christian context, this would be, “Will you come to Christ,” and, “Here’s how to do that.” You can tailor these two things for whatever talk you are giving, but you have to make the big ask (Will you?) along with showing them how to do that.
What I’m reading:
Contentment: The Secret to Lasting Calm, by Richard Swenson, MD.
Next level communicators allow the audience to determine how they teach.
Next level communicators allow the audience to determine how they teach.
Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who pointed out four levels of learning:
Unconscious incompetence. This is the beginning point of all learning, where everyone starts. What this means is a person lacks knowledge in a certain area and is not even aware of it.
Conscious incompetence. At this level, a person is ignorant to the subject, and they know they are ignorant.
Conscious competence. Picture a kid who has been riding a bicycle for a month or so. They know how to do it, and are constantly thinking about the process of riding a bicycle.
Unconscious competence. The best example I could give is a person who has been driving for years. They get in their car and go, not really aware of what they are doing because they have been at it for so long. Or it’s that kid who has been riding a bicycle now for years, and can just hop on one and ride without thinking at all about what they are doing.
These four levels of learning are critical for us as communicators, because they should determine how we approach our talks. For example, I have pastored all over the country, and speak to a wide range of audiences from the Bible. Even though I use the same content, the audience always dictates my approach. When I pastored in Memphis, the audience was steeped in religion, to the point where many assumed they were authentic followers of Jesus Christ, but were not. When it came to the gospel, many were unconsciously incompetent- they lacked knowledge in the difference between the gospel and religion, and weren’t even aware of it. Well, my job as a communicator was to go slow, and show them over and over how the two were different. The lights needed to be turned on for them so they could see what they did not even know they did not see.
I have also spent time as a pastor in the bay area, one of the most secular environments in the world. Broadly speaking, my audience in the bay was consciously incompetent. They knew they didn’t know much about church, the bible, the gospel and Jesus, so I didn’t need to spend a lot of time convincing them they didn’t know; I could just jump right in. I hope you are getting the picture: My approach in the south was to spend a lot of time showing my audience how many were operating under an illusion of Christianity, but in reality were not saved. Had I begun with the later stages, especially the last two, my long term effectiveness as a communicator would be blunted.
So what does this mean for us?
If you are a pastor, or an educator, or someone who has the privilege of talking to the same group of people over a long period of time, you want to move them to unconscious competence. Without even thinking about it, I can do simple addition. How did that happen? A teacher worked with me over a long period of time. So it should be for all of us who communicate to the same audience over and over.
Do speaking pre-work to figure out where the bulk of your audience is when it comes to the four stages and your topic. The reality is there will be people at different levels gathered to hear you. That’s understood. However, what is really gold for the communicator, and what will position us for maximum impact, is having our pulse on where the bulk of the audience is in regards to my topic.
The lower the level, the less you can assume. There’s a lot you can assume when someone is at level four (unconscious competence). In fact, I may not even take the engagement if I’m asked to speak on a topic where there is a high level of competence. But if the bulk of the audience is at level one (unconscious incompetence), then I’m going to have to take the cookies down to the lower shelves, so my audience can access and grasp the concepts. Side note: This is why I think the best place for communicators to begin is speaking to children and youth, because we are forced to simplify our presentations. It is always easier to add complexity, and infinitely harder to simplify.
What I’m Reading:
The Cross Before Me: Reimagining the Way of the Good Life, Rankin Wilbourne.
The one thing next level communicators never stop doing.
The one thing next level communicators never stop doing.
In his book, Teaching to Change Lives, legendary communicator Howard Hendricks says, “If you stop growing today, you stop teaching tomorrow”. It’s what he calls, “The Law of the Teacher”. Great communicators never lose their sense of curiosity. They are always asking questions, and one of the primary people they question is themselves, asking things like, “How can I grow? Where can I improve?” Next level communicators see themselves as students, who understand you never arrive, there’s always another peak to ascend.
Andy Stanley and I once had a conversation where we swapped stories of our next level communicating dads. Charles Stanley was one of the greatest communicators of his generation, and towards the end of his life he asked his son, Andy, if he knew of any mentors who could pour into his (Charles’) life? What a question for an eighty-something year old man to ask, and do you see what was behind his curiosity? Even in his eighties, he wanted to grow. Charles Stanley saw himself as a perpetual student, knowing there was always room for growth.
The worst thing that could ever happen to a great communicator is to realize they are a great communicator. This opens the door for stagnation. When we believe the compliments, when we rest on the applause and praise, that’s the moment where we begin to cheat the game.
People would always rather drink from a running stream, than from a stagnant pool.
Here are some specific areas next level communicators commit to grow:
Growing in content. Remember, great communicators, the Greeks said, have great logos, or content. For just about all of us, the field we work in is constantly evolving. If you are in tech, you know how fast paced this field is. In my own lifetime we’ve gone from floppy disks to artificial intelligence. What this means is to be effective in communication in the tech world, you better commit to growth in your understanding of the latest developments. The same applies to education methods, advances in medicine, and so on. If you are a preacher, while the Scriptures and Jesus are the, “same yesterday, today and forever,” it is also impossible to master. So we too must be committed to a lifelong process of growth and development.
Growing in character. The Greeks also said great communicators have ethos, which is the idea of character. Few things will cut short our drive to be great communicators than bad character. Want to have speaking invitations rescinded or never given- get loose with character. Give yourself to the personal development of your inner life. For me, as a follower of Jesus, that means daily time spent in prayer and bible reading for myself, and not sermon preparation. Inviting close friends to ask hard questions related to your integrity is also a good practice. We never want to be mere professionals where what we say is disconnected from the life we live.
Growing in intellect. The best communicators I know keep a book in their hands. They are always reading, or digesting content, in some form. Every year I want to read at least fifty books on a wide range of topics. Some are related to my occupation, while many other books are for personal enjoyment. We all share a responsibility to steward the minds God has given us well.
Growing as communicators. It doesn’t matter what level you are as a communicator, all of us should solicit feedback from respected communicators who will be blunt with us about areas we could improve. We should also invite the everyday listener for feedback. One of the best sources for this is our spouse or close friends- people who love us but are not so enamored with us they won’t tell us the truth. Encourage them to be honest, and listen without being defensive. Take notes when they share their thoughts, showing them how much you value their input, and be humble enough to incorporate at least some of their wisdom. Think of it this way: If the world’s wealthiest people have financial advisors, then all communicators, even the best of them, should have people giving them feedback.
I just turned in my manuscript for my latest book, Godly Sinners: Pursuing holiness without falling into legalism. Stay tuned for more updates about when and how you can get the book.
Next level communicators make this one tweak with their illustrations.
Next level communicators make this one tweak with their illustrations.
Most people assume the purpose of an illustration is to bring clarity to their point. This is a grave mistake. Don’t get me wrong, illustrations should bring clarity. Remember, we have said while explanations give the point, illustrations are like windows where they show the point. But clarity is not the main purpose of an illustration. The real reason we give illustrations is to motivate our audience to action. Next level communicators understand this.
Clarity and motivation are related, but while we can be clear and not motivated, I don’t think I can motivate you in the direction I want, unless you first have clarity. Great illustrations accomplish both clarity and motivation, with a major in motivation. Learn to ask the question of every illustration you tell, “How can this motivate people to action,” and it will take your talks to the next level…like immediately.
Let me give you a few examples. Suppose I’m preaching on the Spirit filled life, and my main point is how to be filled with the Spirit means He is in control of our lives. An illustration which stops at clarity would be a person who has the steering wheel of a car. She is in control of the car, and that’s what the filling of the Holy Spirit looks like. Like this woman has control of the car, the Holy Spirit wants control of your life. That’s clear, but not motivating. An illustration that motivates is me saying the Holy Spirit is like a designated driver. Now the purpose of the designated driver is to watch a person carefully, and when they are getting drunk, he sticks out his hand and asks for the keys. That’s the Holy Spirit. He wants to be in control. He wants the keys to our lives. He wants the keys to our attitude. He wants the keys to our anger. He wants the keys to our tongue. Have you given him the keys? What area of your life are you still holding onto the keys? See how I’ve played with this illustration, and stretched it out so that it ventured beyond clarity and into motivation? All this takes is when we think about illustrations we ask the question, how can this motivate the audience to action? That one simple tweak will move your talk to the next level.
In moving illustrations from clarity to motivation, I have found the following to be helpful:
First, be clear on the point you are making. Illustrations are no good unless there is first the point. I always want to first setup the illustration by stating my point.
A great illustration is one where the audience gets the point before you give the point. There should be no guesswork when it comes to illustrations. No one should struggle figuring out what you mean. In fact, you want your audience to beat you to the punchline.
Don’t confuse motivation with inspiration. Sometimes when we are motivated to do things it’s because we have been challenged in an area of our lives where we are not doing so well. Yes, there are times when people will applaud, or even cheer, a great illustration. But there are other times when the silence is thick, as the illustration has challenged some of their core beliefs, assumptions and practices. That’s great too.
Your energy should match your illustration. This is really key. If all you want is to be clear, then you will open the door to boredom. But if you want to motivate, then you will put the appropriate energy into the illustration, because you are leading people down a path called change. If you feel the illustration will lead people to applaud, or make them feel good, then be upbeat. If the illustration will challenge them in some way, you probably want to slow your speech, reign in your gestures, or at least incorporate the appropriate pause.
Finally, illustrations should be concise. The longer the illustration, the greater the likelihood we are overcomplicating things. Simplicity is our friend, so keep it short.
Where I’m speaking:
I am preaching this Thursday evening and Sunday morning at Resonate Church in Fremont, California. If you are near the bay area, come hang out! I’d love to meet you.
What I’m reading:
Next level communicators pay attention to the big five.
Next level communicators pay attention to the big five.
Communication expert, Dr. Bryan Chapell, outlines the five things in a talk listeners are most likely to remember. In order, they are:
Unusual delivery
Illustrations (the last, the first, then others)
Applications strongly disagreed with/Applications strongly agreed with.
Striking or strange ideas within the talk
The general theme or thrust of the message (Taken from his book, Christ-centered Preaching, pages 125-126).
This is really helpful information, a sort of cheat code, we should use whenever we put a talk together. So let’s spend a few moments unpacking each of these concepts, along with practical ways we can use them to take our presentations to the next level.
Unusual Delivery:
This can cover a wide variety of things, like a really bad talk that just bombed, to a very good one, or one which possessed an unusual feature like an accent. Jon Tyson is one of the best communicators in the world, and while his content and delivery are rich, the fact he speaks with an Australian accent is helpful as well. Where does that leave the rest of us, who communicate with culturally normal accents? Is there anything we can do to be unusual? Yes. Using a visual aid to imprint a point you wish to make in the minds of your audience fits this category. Speaking with appropriate passion to an audience who is not used to passion qualifies as unusual. I have friends of mine who speak sometimes in a first person narrative, even dressing the part of the character they are portraying. Think Joseph, the husband of Mary, in the nativity scene. Feel free to be creative, but as you know, this can go really well or really bad, which, well, the more I think about it will make it unusual, but not always for the right reasons. Seriously, consult respected peers and mentors before you dive in.
Illustrations:
We have talked extensively about the neuroscience connecting stories with retention in previous posts; so you know how passionate I am about a great illustration. But did you notice how Dr. Chapell ranks the order of illustrations when it comes to retention. People are most likely to first remember your last illustration, then your opening one and then the rest. What this tells me is it’s important to finish with a strong illustration which will inspire your audience to action.
Applications strongly disagreed/agreed with:
I do want to caution us. Let’s not be contentious for the sake of retention. However, the Greeks said people left the presence of a great speaker always feeling as if they learned something new (logos). Your presentation should challenge people’s biases and preferences. When you make applications which cut against the grain of their presuppositions, they will leave turning your ideas over and over and over again, in their minds. Remember, your applications must be true, but maybe we need to put the work in to phrase them a bit differently. Also, some of the best applications move from strongly disagree, to agree. What seems wrong at first, only to become, “Ah, that’s right,” is real gold for the communicator. Here’s a few examples:
I am not saved by my performance: Hell will be filled with many virgins, and heaven will be filled with many former prostitutes.
“God does not love you to the degree that you are like Christ. Rather, he loves you to the degree that you are in Christ, and that’s one hundred percent”- Rankin Wilbourne.
The church does not need old people. The church needs patriarchs and matriarchs; there’s a difference.
Striking or strange ideas within the talk:
When people come to hear you, they are making a serious investment of time, which means they do not need to be told what they already know. Your presentation should offer something new to many in your audience. Jesus did this. All of his messages centered around a new thing called the kingdom of heaven. Steve Jobs was a revolutionary communicator not because of his gifts of oratory, but because of his new, counter-cultural ideas and products. Yes, Martin Luther King, Jr., was a world class communicator, but let’s not forget the substance behind his style was this novel American ideology of nonviolence. If you are a preacher, the message we carry is an ancient one, so no need to come up with something new. However, remember the good news will be new to at least a few in our audience. Also keep in mind, that even though the message may be old, there are innovative ways we can frame the message which challenge the ideals of our context. For example, if you are preaching in the south, framing the gospel as opposed to religion will be both true and new to many who are in your audience.
The general theme or thrust of the message:
Sometimes it’s more than our ideas within a message which is new, but the whole premise of the message is new. If you are giving a talk on artificial intelligence, you’ve got a head start on the likelihood of your audience retaining the information because your message is shaped around a relatively new technology. If you are an educator giving a talk on the harm social media can present to students, your very subject is going to make the audience lean in. However, what are we to do as preachers whose subject is several millennia old? Set your sights on the felt need of your sermon, and let that be the new driving application and show how the gospel speaks to that. Scripture does speak to artificial intelligence and social media and technology. It’s in there, I promise. For example, Christians should wrestle with questions like, “Will AI harm the services industry, and what does the biblical worldview say to that?” See how you can take the bible and make the whole message an innovative one, just by addressing a new concept?
If you’re interested in one on one coaching to take your communication to the next level, you can find out more information here.
What I’m Reading:
The Mercy King, by Scott Sauls.
Next level communicators throw baseballs, not sand.
Next level communicators throw baseballs, not sand.
If I were to ask which are you more likely to catch, a fistful of sand or a baseball, we all know it’s the baseball. We know this because although a baseball is made up of several parts, it is held together as one unified whole, making it easier for a person to catch, than throwing random parts all at once to them. The key to the baseball’s receptivity is its unity.
Make the switch from throwing sand to throwing baseballs, and you will see immediate growth in your communication…like, immediate.
Too many gifted communicators throw sand to their audience, where they say a lot of good things, but because they have not done the work to stitch them together in one theme, “the grains of sand,” fall to the ground. Our presentations are for listeners, not readers. When a person reads, they have the luxury of going back a few pages or chapters, to get clarity, or receive, what they may have dropped. The people who come and hear us don’t have that option. Here’s a scary thought: When we fail to present a unifying theme for our messages, the listener will provide their own. I’ll say that again: When we fail to present a unifying theme for our message, the listener will provide their own. It’s the classic hour or so after your talk, and someone asks them what it was about? They are going to provide an answer, the real question is will they provide the one you intended. If you threw a baseball, they will. If you got up and tossed out a bunch of really good, but disconnected ideas, they won’t get what you intended, because you didn’t help them to get what you intended.
Yes, every presentation must have a unifying theme, somewhere in the neighborhood of seven to ten words, which canvasses all of your talk. I find this to be the most agonizing, but rewarding part of my preparation. Here’s some thoughts about a unifying theme, along with an example:
Should be crafted towards the end of the preparation. After you have spent sufficient time researching your topic, now you are ready to put together the unifying theme. Just the other day I was asked by a church to preach on John 4, and Jesus’ conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. Here was my unifying statement: We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people. Okay, it’s twelve words…sue me, lol.
It’s your filter. Your unifying statement allows you to determine what makes it into your presentation, and what does not. If it does not clearly link into the statement, then it has to go. This will help you throw a baseball and not sand. I don’t care how innovative that idea is, or cool your illustration, unless it clearly connects, save it for another talk.
Should be placed towards the beginning of your presentation. After I’ve made the introduction, and moved to the felt need, I then like to set up and give the unifying statement, even at times, having my audience say the statement with me.
All of your points must connect to your unifying statement. For example, my points for the John 4 talk were: 1. We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people; 2. We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people, even if it makes me uncomfortable; 3. We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people, even if it makes them uncomfortable.
When we put the work into crafting a unifying statement for every talk, we will position the audience to receive the content we will “throw” their way. If you want to instantly sharpen your effectiveness as a next level communicator, learn to throw a baseball and not sand.
If you’d like to receive one-on-one coaching in your journey as a communicator, go here.
What I’m reading: