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<\/a><\/p>\nHere are some key questions to ask to make that happen in whatever your context may be:<\/p>\n
1. \u00a0What do you want to communicate?<\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s incredibly basic, but it needs to be. What is the point that you want to get across? Being able to articulate and explain this to yourself is absolutely the first step. If you\u2019ve ever sat in a sermon that seemed to have more rabbit trails than a main idea it\u2019s because that speaker had not come to a clear sense of what they wanted to communicate. As I\u2019m writing a sermon I always have a clear purpose statement that I\u2019ve written out. Why? Because it steers the entire way that I will communicate from what I say to how I say it. So clearly determine what your point is.<\/p>\n
2. \u00a0Why does it matter to the hearer?<\/b><\/p>\n
It is noble for us to think that people should just appreciate what we say because we\u2019re the ones saying it. Sometimes you\u2019ll be able to get away with that. Most of the time you won\u2019t.<\/p>\n
People tend to be rather simple creatures. If we know there is something in it for us, we will listen to the message. If we feel we don\u2019t have a stake in what\u2019s being communicated we flip the channel. So the second step is crucial. You need to figure out why what you have to say is so important! What do they stand to gain or lose? What could be at stake? What does it matter to them personally?<\/p>\n
3. \u00a0What\u2019s the best way to communicate it?<\/b><\/p>\n
This is where it gets a little more subtle and nuanced. When you\u2019ve clearly defined your message and know why it matters to the hearer then you can begin to tailor it to them. Notice, you\u2019re not just bulldozing in with your agenda. That simply doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n
What you\u2019re doing is deciding whether a direct approach is best or maybe a subtle one. Perhaps you will need to speak softly or to speak boldly. You may want to consider whether starting off with a story is better than \u201cgetting right into it.\u201d (In fact, I know a Guy<\/a> who seemed to love to do that.) What you\u2019re doing here is taking the time to fine tune things. It\u2019s like deciding what specific gift you\u2019re going to give rather than settling with a gift card.<\/p>\n 4. \u00a0What\u2019s the most effective way of making the message stick?<\/b><\/p>\n Oftentimes communicating your message well will not be your final goal. You\u2019ll want it to stick as well. You want them to get it but also remember it. For this you need to think impact.<\/p>\n