Meetings: 10 Tips to Improve Communication
Have you ever been involved in a very acidic meeting? One where it is obvious communication is failing? One which you are simply shocked by the behavior of the other individuals present? Perhaps it turned out to be so sickening you just excused yourself from the room? Sometimes that is what you must do. Do not allow yourself to sink to a level for which you would shame Christ by wearing His name. Whether it is in the Church, the boardroom, the PTA, the family living room, or an online forum, there are things you can do to make certain you are part of the solution and not the problem when interacting with others.
1 – Show up on time. (Luke 6:31)
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
2 – Consider any material presented prior to or during a meeting. (Acts 17:11)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
3 – Be respectful of any written or spoken communication. (Proverbs 19:20)
“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”
4 – Don’t throw anything, call names, or be derisive. (Colossians 3:8)
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
5 – Don’t demean one’s character because you disagree. (Proverbs 10:18)
“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.”
6 – Don’t lie through the use of semantics. (Colossians 3:9)
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; “
7 – Do not allow someone to force you to speak. (James 1:19)
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: “
8 – Silence doesn’t mean ignorance. (Proverbs 17:28)
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
9 – Don’t raise your voice in anger. (Colossians 4:6)
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
10 – Don’t threaten someone because you have power. (I Peter 5:3)
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”