Communicating For Change

Every XP3 Students series’ large group script is based off of the book — Communicating For Change by Andy Stanley.

So we thought it would be helpful to summarize Communicating For Change so our XP3 users and Orange Thinkers could understand the why behind our teaching approach.

Communicating For Change is a must read.  We did our best to boil it down to four points:

(1)  Begin With an Intriguing Story: The story begins with a narrative written by Lane Jones. We meet a guy named Ray, who’s contemplating how effective he is as a pastor. He questions
if anyone is even listening anymore, when he learns a lesson about communication from an unexpected individual. Willy Graham, a truck driver of 38 years, understands that effective communication is about understanding what’s imperative. And as Willy put it, “My goal was to see the country and meet as many interesting people as I could and tell them about my relationship with Jesus Christ.” (pg. 32)

(2)  Create a Map: It’s no wonder that Andy puts this simply! He introduces an approach to communication, in which these five components play a specific and important role in facilitating the communication journey.

ME –  Orientation

WE – Identification

GOD –   Illumination

YOU –   Application

WE – Inspiration

(3)  Ask yourself 5 questions.  Here are 5 questions that Andy suggests you consider as you prepare to communicate.

1. What do they need to know?       INFORMATION

2. Why do they need to know it?     MOTIVATION

3. What do they need to do?
           APPLICATION

4. Why do they need to do it?          INSPIRATION

5. How can I help them remember?  REITERATION

(4)  Where do you start when you want to communicate for a change?

DETERMINING YOUR GOAL –  What are you trying to accomplish?

PICK A POINT – What are you trying to say?

CREATE A MAP – What’s the best route to your point?

INTERNALIZE THE MESSAGE – What’s your story?

ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE – What’s your plan to capture and keep their attention?

If you don’t like reading here’s a video where Andy talks about the principles in Communicating For Change:

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What’s the greatest and hardest thing about approaching communication like Andy has outlined here in Communicating For Change?