Tag Archives: Communication

Six Conversations That Matter

Posted on September 29, 2012 by in Change, Leadership

by Peter Block on July 5, 2011

There is a great deal written and practiced about creating new conversations, all of which is valuable and holds the same spirit as what is outlined here. For example, for some time there has been an important dialogue movement to help people understand their own mental models and listen more deeply as an act of inquiry.

The types of conversations outlined here are a little different in that they are aimed at building community, whereas many of the others are primarily aimed at individual development or improving relationships. Plus these community-building conversations are pointedly designed to confront the issue of accountability and commitment.

To open the community to an alternative future, start with the invitation conversation. Since all the other conversations lead to one another, sequence is not all that critical. It’s important to understand that some are more difficult than others, especially in communities where citizens are just beginning to engage with one another. Certain conversations are high-risk and require a greater level of trust among people than others to have meaning. A good meeting design begins with less-demanding ones and ends with the more-difficult ones.

  1. Invitation conversation. Transformation occurs through choice, not mandate. Invitation is the call to create an alternative future. What is the invitation we can make to support people to participate and own the relationships, tasks, and process that lead to success?
  2. Possibility conversation. This focuses on what we want our future to be as opposed to problem solving the past. It frees people to innovate, challenge the status quo, break new ground and create new futures that make a difference.
  3. Ownership conversation. This conversation focuses on whose organization or task is this? It asks: How have I contributed to creating current reality? Confusion, blame and waiting for someone else to change are a defense against ownership and personal power.
  4. Dissent conversation. This gives people the space to say no. If you can’t say no, your yes has no meaning. Give people a chance to express their doubts and reservations, as a way of clarifying their roles, needs and yearnings within the vision and mission. Genuine commitment begins with doubt, and no is an expression of people finding their space and role in the strategy.
  5. Commitment conversation. This conversation is about making promises to peers about your contribution to the success. It asks: What promise am I willing to make to this enterprise? And, what price am I willing to pay for success? It is a promise for the sake of a larger purpose, not for personal return.
  6. Gifts conversation. Rather than focus on deficiencies and weaknesses, we focus on the gifts and assets we bring and capitalize on those to make the best and highest contribution. Confront people with their core gifts that can make the difference and change lives.

Other conversations may also be important, but these six are vital to shift to a future where each citizen, each neighbor, each individual chooses to take responsibility and own their role in shaping the future.

Adapted from Community: The Structure of Belonging, by Peter Block (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2008).

Words and Actions are Both Necessary

Posted on September 22, 2012 by in Idea Sharing, Leadership

So often people get into trouble when they take an either-or approach. As a corrective to over emphasis on preaching, many have moved to an over emphasis on actions. It is really both. Tim Keller highlights the important of word in a recent blog of his.

“The popular saying, ‘Preach the gospel; use words if necessary’ is helpful but also misleading. If the gospel were primarily about what we must do to be saved, it could be communicated as well by actions (to be imitated) as by words. But if the gospel is primarily about what God has done to save us, and how we can receive it through faith , it can only be expressed through words. Faith cannot come without hearing. This is why we read in Galatians 2:5 that heresy endangers the truth of the gospel, and why Philippians 1:16 declares that a person’s mind must be persuaded of the truth of the gospel. Ephesians 1:13 also asserts that the gospel is the word of truth. Ephesians 6:19 and Colossians 1:23 teach that we advance the gospel through verbal communication, particularly preaching.” – Tim Keller

I think the most powerful communication occurs when we use both words and actions.

Mel

Storytelling

Posted on July 16, 2012 by in Idea Sharing

The team at Church Relevance shared a helpful blog on Storytelling.

Mel

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The team at Pixar is considered to be some of the greatest storytellers of this era. With successes like Toy Story, Cars, and Finding Nemo, they’ve learned the intricacies of what works and what doesn’t.

A Pixar storyboard artist named Emma Coats (@lawnrocket) recently took to Twitter to share some of the greatest storytelling insights she’s learned over the years.

We’ve adapted 7 of our favorites for churches and preachers.

7 Story Telling Tips From Pixar

  1. You have to keep in mind what’s interesting (and of most value) to your audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different.
  2. Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
  3. Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
  4. Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.
  5. Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.
  6. If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.
  7. No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on – it’ll come back around to be useful later.

Don’t forget, however, that faith comes by hearing the Word of God

and the gospel preached. This is foundationally essential to the Holy Spirit changing lives. Without scripture and the gospel, it doesn’t matter how great of a storyteller you are. But with the gospel, often great storytelling will help attract more ears to hear Scripture.

What are your best storytelling tips?

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