Are you an effective communicator? Are you sure? You may have been in leadership for decades, but that’s no guarantee.
Understanding the four stages of speaking will help you determine the answer to these important questions. Abraham Maslow, the acclaimed psychologist most famous for developing the hierarchy of needs pyramid, also pioneered the four stages of learning. Here, I compare them to the four stages of speaking:
— Unconscious incompetence: At this stage, we don’t know what we don’t know, and often, this is due to a lack of constructive feedback. In business or leadership, the non-speaker avoids public speaking at all costs. Haven’t we all been in a meeting where someone is casually asked to “just share with us …,” and then that person is gripped with fear? For these types of people, their interpersonal communication may be poor as well, and they often work at jobs with very few speaking requirements.
— Conscious incompetence: Now, you realize what it is you don’t know, often associated with a lot of pain. The occasional speaker will speak if they must. Speaking at this level is inhibiting but not debilitating. And here’s the good news: This is the easiest stage to advance from. Here, work and practice will take you far.
— Conscious competence: At this level, we practice and work at what we don’t know. Willing speakers don’t have much fear drawing them back. They’ve learned to positively use their emotions and convey their thoughts. In general, they have confidence in their communication abilities.
— Unconscious competence: Once you’ve practiced a skill long enough, you don’t even have to think about it. You simply do what you know. The leader-speaker is actually stimulated by speaking; they’re driven to present their ideas and reap the rewards of their presentation. They inspire, influence, motivate and mobilize, moving their agendas down the road.
Thankfully, most communication skills are learned, and no matter what level you’re at today, you can take that up a few notches.
One of my favorite quotes from Secrets of Dynamic Communication by Ken Davis is this:
“If you wish to communicate the gospel effectively, you will have to do more than just dump information on the audience or pepper the forest with theological buckshot. Your message is more than a message to be heard, it is a message to be felt and lived. If you are to be effective, your teaching and preaching must touch the emotions of your audience.”
If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to be good; you want to be effective.
Subscribe to the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast with Dr. Langley to learn more about this topic and others for more biblical wisdom on the areas of lordship, leadership and lifestyle. {eoa}
Dr. Randal S. Langley is the president and CEO of Christian Life School of Theology Global, a world leader in theological and leadership education, providing online degree programs and customized Christian higher-education solutions for churches, ministries and other organizations. Dr. Langley is also president of the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries and is a founding partner and certified life coach, teacher and trainer for the John C. Maxwell Team. His desire is to help people fulfill their ultimate purpose in life and achieve their God-given dreams.
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