Closing the Communication Gap

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." - Proverbs 25:11

Anytime there is a gap in communication, problems begin to surface. Leaders bear responsibility for how communication happens, and if we are consistently being misunderstood, we need to recognize that the fault lies with us.

Four things happen in the communication gap:

1. Assumptions — “I thought you meant…”

2. Accusations — “You never told me that.”

3. Aggravation — “Why didn’t someone say something sooner?”

4. Alienation — “I don’t feel heard or valued.”

The truth is, you are never wrong to work harder at eliminating communication gaps. Leaders should always be thinking about the communication aspect of ministry. As John Maxwell wisely said, “People do not always hear what you say. They hear what they think you meant.”

Both leaders and listeners carry responsibilities in communication. Miscommunication is not simply about words left unsaid. It often involves perception, timing, and tone. And the larger a ministry grows, the harder the leaders have to work at keeping communication strong. We see this modeled in Jesus’ ministry, when the people declared in John 7:46, “Never man spake like this man.” Jesus was always clear and effective in His communication.

So what does effective communication look like for leaders today? The Bible gives us several keys.

First, leaders must speak clearly. As Matthew 5:37 reminds us, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Our words should be simple and direct. George Bernard Shaw once said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” A leader’s job is not complete until the message is understood.

Second, leaders must speak in a timely way. There is both a right time and a right way to speak. Proverbs 15:23 teaches that “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Timing can either build bridges or burn them. Eliphaz, for example, spoke true things in Job 4, but at the wrong moment in Job’s life. We must be careful not to make the same mistake. A public rebuke in front of others may say the right words, but at the wrong time and in the wrong way.

Third, leaders are called to speak graciously. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”This reminds us that leadership communication is not about dominating, but about edifying. Our responsibility is to support the feebleminded, to bring them along, and to patiently guide rather than crush them with authority.

Fourth, leaders must speak wisely. Proverbs 29:11 states “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” This urges us to think before we speak, because the words of a leader carry extra weight. That means there are no “off minutes” for a leader. What we post, what we recommend, even casual comments all matter. Leaders do not have the privilege of throwaway remarks or airing complaints without consequence. Plato captured it well: “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.”

Finally, leaders are to speak truthfully. James 3:5 tells us “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” This reminds us of the power of our words. Leaders must say what is right, not just what is easy. Truth can both correct and encourage. A leader can kindly look at someone and say what needs to be said, with truth in love.