Barriers to Effective Communication

When communicating with your youth leaders, try to avoid the following:

By Passing

Different words have different meanings.  Make your communication idiot proof so that no one can misinterpret it.

Allness

We think we have said everything necessary after a few minutes. Always have a time for questions in order to check communication.

Guess Proneness

Beware assigning hidden deeper motives to things.

Hardening of the Categories

Beware over generalization, all teachers are alike, all _____ are alike, we need to recognize differences in people.

Either / Or Thinking

Beware of categorizing things into boxes (i.e. “churches are either X or Y.”)

Blinderness

Like blinders on horses, sometimes we can only see one way to do something. We need examine other possibilities.

Thalamic Reaction

Think before you react.  Don't jump to conclusions.

Misuse of Small Talk

Do not give information through small talk.  It is not an effectivemeans to spread information as it may not be taken seriously

Misuse of Labels

Labels are dangerous as they have a connotation of permanence and of being true 100% of the time.  Neither is true.

Misuse of “And”

Beware adding responsibilities.. please do X and Y.  “Additional”
responsibilities “multiply” the work.