Yesterday, I received an email from my friend Jonathan that started with this line, “I’d be interested in reading how you find time in your schedule to prioritize thinking and writing…”
The thought of communicating more can feel overwhelming. You have to decipher multiple platforms and then actually type the words or record the video.
We don’t always ask — if I start communicating more as a leader; how will that make me more effective and even save time?
For example, this blog post resulted from an email from Jonathan. You’re probably still reading it because you had the same question about carving time for thinking and communication. Regularly, you probably receive questions or hear repeated topics of conversation that would influence more than the one person who asked it if you communicated online.
I do my best thinking and writing in the morning. Each day, I think of each blog article and social media post as a way to connect with the people I serve. I hope to prompt a conversation or cause people to pause to think for a moment.
In many ways, communicating as a leader in whatever format is like sending an email to a personal friend. It just so happens they might be on a more extensive list of individuals in your circle of influence.
You will have to find the best time for thinking and creating content that works best for your schedule, but I wanted to give a few key topics that you can start to identify to communicate:
Communicate responses to frequently asked questions.
If you receive the same question three-four times, then post something. Three to four people dared to ask you the same question, which also means more people thought of that question.
Communicate resources challenging you to grow.
The people you serve want to know how what books and podcasts you engage. Sharing resources invites people to see how you are being challenged to grow.
Communicate the wins the church or organization you serve.
Now more than ever, people desire good news. Take time to celebrate the wins—the emails and texts matter. The social media posts help the whole church or organization see hope amid this challenging season.
Communicate your ideas for the future.
It takes courage to share your ideas or even a vision for the future. You have to use some discretion. When we communicate online, you can have better conversations for the people who engage you. Let people know what you’re thinking.
Several aspects in communicating as leaders have changed, so many have stayed the same. Creating space to think, write, and shoot a video can connect with the people you serve. Planning communication leads to better conversations and even more connection. Don’t miss this opportunity.
What have you learned about communicating as a leader? Share in the comment section below.
Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash