Less Clutter. Less Noise. Book Tour

If you’re looking for proven “now” communication strategies to make every aspect of a person’s engagement with your church or organization more rewarding, then make this book happen for you.  Reading Less Clutter. Less Noise. will shape the way you do things.  Author and Communications Director Kem Meyer knows her stuff and shares her experiences, as well as practices that are currently in play.

Kem, what ways have you found effective to communicate to regulars, who like the way things are, why changes are necessary in order to better connect with guests?

The best technique I’ve found is to create space for conversations with leaders (staff or volunteer). If I invest in them, they help carry the torch to their sphere of influence. I ask the same types of questions to “lead the witness” and navigate around talking points to help shape shift perspectives (for me and them). A friend of mine had the title of Communications Director but said it should be changed to Communications Redirector because he spent 50% of his time redirecting people and projects. I think it is a fair perspective and good example to follow, regardless of what your role or job title may be.

Sometimes there is tension, though, because people are coming to you to get something done. They really aren’t interested in being “re-directed” or processing more questions with you. Other times, the tension is there because what they’re asking you for isn’t going to help them. In fact, it might even hinder them—and you know it. But, they didn’t come for you to tell them they’re wrong. You can’t sell what they’re not looking for.

Every conversation and project has different dynamics, but if you can find a system that helps you avoid spending too much time creating or too much time regulating, it’s a win. It’s never a win if you consistently find yourself playing the role of the communications police. One way is to start every project with a healthy skepticism and simply…ask questions.

Somebody smart told me about the three areas they evaluate for everything they do. I don’t remember the who, but the what stuck, and it is a system we use. Here are the three areas we use as a filter to evaluate everything we do and some of the questions we ask along the way.

• Is it appealing (context)? Are we focusing our energy from the “inside out” or from the “outside in”? Do we know why people will spend their time and attention on us? Does it apply to their life in a practical way? What makes it worth the hassle? Do we know the comfort zone?
• Is it engaging (presentation)? Are we unifying our message or diluting it? Are we reducing the noise in people’s life or adding to it? Are we removing the barriers to entry? What problem is this solving? Does this support or compete with the intended experience for our audience? Are we making things easy for them to find? Easy to understand? Easy to do?
• Is it helpful (content)? Are we giving people what they want, when they want it? Or, are we answering questions they haven’t asked yet? What expectations are we setting that are unrealistic or out of our control? Are we promising something we can’t deliver on?  Are we making statements as if they were facts, when in reality they are subjective and left to personal interpretation? Are we baiting people with exaggerated benefits?

Sometimes, you’ll end up leading the witness with your questioning; other times, the two-way collaboration comes naturally. Either way, the result is breakthrough thinking and new insights from everyone on the same page.

[The contest portion is now closed. Thank you for the excellent dialogue.  Keep it coming.  Congratulations to Alicia Nordeen for winning a copy of the book!]

Comment on the Q&A with the answer to one of the questions below.

• What kind of potential can better communication have where you work or worship?
• Where is there a need for less clutter and noise in your life?
• Bonus: Create your own and answer it! [But be surrious about it. React to the Q&A, if you'd like.]

Have fun!