I’ve
been thinking lately about communication styles. One challenge about
living in community for me has been trying to speak my teammates’
languages. It’s a great learning experience, but like any learning
experience, it comes with its own set of challenges. Talking to Tim
is a completely different conversation than talking to Jennifer,
which is an entirely different experience than talking to Lauren.
Having our teams split has been a whole new lesson in effective
communication. I’ve had the blessing of working with almost every
member of Petra and Kingdom Unity, and I’m learning to speak six new
languages (some more successfully than others).
been thinking lately about communication styles. One challenge about
living in community for me has been trying to speak my teammates’
languages. It’s a great learning experience, but like any learning
experience, it comes with its own set of challenges. Talking to Tim
is a completely different conversation than talking to Jennifer,
which is an entirely different experience than talking to Lauren.
Having our teams split has been a whole new lesson in effective
communication. I’ve had the blessing of working with almost every
member of Petra and Kingdom Unity, and I’m learning to speak six new
languages (some more successfully than others).
I’m
risking sounding really cheesy and trite in about a paragraph and a
half. Steel yourself for it.
risking sounding really cheesy and trite in about a paragraph and a
half. Steel yourself for it.
On
that subject, I had a revelation while at the youth group meeting
Friday night at the church in Pula. Everyone has their own
communication style. No huge epiphany in that.
that subject, I had a revelation while at the youth group meeting
Friday night at the church in Pula. Everyone has their own
communication style. No huge epiphany in that.
But
the thing that I realized that night as we sang the same worship
songs in two different languages simultaneously (which actually
sounds really cool, for the record) is that those communication
styles relate to the languages that our hearts speak. Different
things stir our souls in different ways. We each have words written
on our hearts that determine how we respond to circumstances.
the thing that I realized that night as we sang the same worship
songs in two different languages simultaneously (which actually
sounds really cool, for the record) is that those communication
styles relate to the languages that our hearts speak. Different
things stir our souls in different ways. We each have words written
on our hearts that determine how we respond to circumstances.
Maybe
the words on our heart are in Spanish. Maybe they’re in Croatian.
Maybe the words on our heart are authoritative. Maybe they’re
sympathetic. Maybe they’re devoid of feeling. Maybe they’re so full
of emotion that it spills out of the person every second. But the
trick to communicating with those hearts is to learn their language,
and to speak words that resonate with that language. If a heart
responds to authority, it’s going to be difficult to stir it with
words of uncertainty. If a heart is fluent in compassion, cold and
frank words will not be understood.
the words on our heart are in Spanish. Maybe they’re in Croatian.
Maybe the words on our heart are authoritative. Maybe they’re
sympathetic. Maybe they’re devoid of feeling. Maybe they’re so full
of emotion that it spills out of the person every second. But the
trick to communicating with those hearts is to learn their language,
and to speak words that resonate with that language. If a heart
responds to authority, it’s going to be difficult to stir it with
words of uncertainty. If a heart is fluent in compassion, cold and
frank words will not be understood.
Effective
communication is more than just knowing the right thing to say at the
right time. It’s more than learning what someone’s love language is.
It’s identifying that heart language, and learning to speak to it in
words (both spoken and unspoken) that it relates to and will
understand.
communication is more than just knowing the right thing to say at the
right time. It’s more than learning what someone’s love language is.
It’s identifying that heart language, and learning to speak to it in
words (both spoken and unspoken) that it relates to and will
understand.
For
those who are curious, I think the words written on my heart are
mostly comprised of lines from the Princess Bride.
those who are curious, I think the words written on my heart are
mostly comprised of lines from the Princess Bride.
