We’re born communicating and we don’t stop until we die.
We communicate every waking moment, sometimes silently and sometimes aloud, sometimes with words and sometimes with gestures and noises and facial expressions.
Why, then, does communication sometimes seem so hard?
Fortunately, good communication can be learned.
Leaders tend to be very good communicators, which is a good thing, except when it gets in our way:
For one thing, leaders develop blind spots and because they are so confident in their communication skills, they don’t see and address them.
Also, leaders tend to be good communicators, but they lead people who aren’t. Even the best communicators often don’t know how to help their teams and staff who struggle.
We hope that these resources* (books, articles, podcasts, videos and substacks) will help you as a leader to go back to the basics and level up your own communication. Then you can take some of these back to your team or to a staff member who is struggling and work with them on improving communication in the organization.
And of course, we’d love to hear what resources are making a difference in your life and leadership. Find us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know!
The basics:
Change Your Questions Change Your Life
This little book will help you think differently about how you talk to yourself and others.
This classic continues to challenge, instruct and inspire. Don’t miss this one.
One Communication Tool You Should Add to Your Toolkit
A short article to add to what you already know.
This podcast uses a simple analogy to teach basic communication skills.
This short podcast reminds us to be curious and walks us through the basics.
For advanced beginners:
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever
A step-by-step guide to leading by bringing out the best in others.
What are the great communicators doing right and how can we learn from them?
This YouTube video teaches the life-changing power of deep listening and inquiry.
Hard conversations and conflict:
Disagree Better with Tammy Lenski
An experienced conflict researcher shares her best information and advice on this not-to-be-missed substack and newsletter.
3 Practices: Crossing the Difference Divide
Learn a simple formula for having difficult conversations and then practice online with strangers!
A podcast exploring what happens at the end of the dialogue road.
Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart
A research-based view of the complicated systemic patterns that keeps Christians from understanding each other and working together.
Communication in groups:
This organization is committed to the reality that differences don’t have to divide. Come for their resources and stay for the training. They have a good newsletter too.
A simple guide to help groups talk more creatively and effectively than you imagined
Moving Past the Memo: Conversations in Organizations
This podcast follows the flow of conversation in organizations – up, down and sideways.
The Little Book of Circle Processes
Circles are a historic way to pursue peacemaking and justice and this little book will whet your appetite for more.
The first half of this book especially gives ideas for how to open up conversation in faith-based groups.
*For convenience, we’re offering links to Amazon. However, we encourage you to support Bookshop or your local bookstore if you can.
