A leader’s goal when communicating should be to establish mutual understanding between all those involved. Read Isaiah 6:9.

After God called Isaiah into service He gave him information that his assignment would be very difficult. God forewarned Isaiah that there would be communication problems. Even though Isaiah would be giving totally accurate information, there would be no communication because the people would refuse to listen or understand. The people had no choice but to hear the words but they allowed them to pass through their conscious mind without changing their core truths or their behavior.

Wise leaders understand the seasons each leader will go through in their lifetime. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Solomon gained a magnificent understanding concerning the seasons of his life and it helped him gain an understanding of God’s sovereignty. As much as a leader is given charge over the moments of life and the management of our daily schedules, God controls the seasons of a leader’s life. God established those sweeping elements of timing such as birth, aging, death and all the seasons in between.

Only a foolish leader assumes one-way communication brings understanding. Read Proverbs 18:2.

Any leader that wants to lead effectively for a long period of time must learn to communicate. Left undeveloped, communication skills will be a roadblock to a leader’s effectiveness. The understanding that comes from effective communication is built on two pillars. One pillar is presentation, the other pillar is listening.

Wise leaders create an environment where advisors are encouraged to give their input and feel free to enter into dialog even when their counsel is unpopular. Read Proverbs 11:14.

Effective leaders legitimize, encourage and utilize trusted advisors as they make decisions. These advisors add value to the leadership of the organization. This “inner circle” of counselors is so important that according to verse 14 without them a nation (business/ministry) will fail and with them victory is sure.

Wise leaders learn how to communicate with their team rather than just speak to their team. Read Job 16:2.

Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar boldly told Job he had suffered the loss of his possessions, family and health because he had acted foolishly, spoke wrongly and lived wickedly. In Job 16:2 Job calls them “…miserable comforters.” When they spoke from their beliefs without the facts of the specific situation Job felt like their long-winded speeches would never end. These men became speakers rather than communicators. A few differences between leaders who are speakers and communicators: