This view on leadership and the church comes from an ongoing synopsis from the observations of Band of Brothers.

Next topic about the church and how it should be like today:

  • Talk about open communication!  When your life depends on the other person you don’t hold anything back.

This point is similar but different to what we covered about being open with individuals and sharing your secrets.  This is more about how to communicate and what could be the possibilities if we took the time to listen before speaking.

Not to beat a dead horse but here are the differences and why good communication is worth it:

  • They (the soldiers) knew to shut up when someone was talking so they could here the whole message.
  • They also gave direct eye contact so they could see the guys emotional responses to what the other person was saying.
  • Usually they started their answer by acknowledging somehow, “This is what I heard you say.” (Usually with colorful language :) )
  • When they were sure they understood the bottom line then they decided to act on it.

What’s this look like for churches:

  • Staff that understands how each other feels and what is important to the other person.
  • Staff that feels that they are supported and that their contributions count.
  • Bad eggs are weeded out because individual agendas are discovered and exposed.
  • It allows for the clarification of vision and why you are doing something.
  • Everybody knows how to speak for their team mates because they have a grasp of what the other is trying to accomplish.

I have been in situations where communication is non existent.  People believe that communication is getting louder and voicing your opinion more aggressively.  When this happens you lose moral and the respect of others.  Then your best leaders will leave.

Forget about good, average communication is hard to achieve but it is well worth it.

Those of you that have experienced the two different types of workplaces know what I am talking about.  Challenge to you is if you are in a place with bad communication how are you going to make it better?