Ineffective Communication At It's Best

Have you ever been in a conversation where it just seemed impossible for you to understand what the other person was trying to communicate?

A few years ago, someone asked me to write out the directions for a community builder I call the “Uhh Game.” The “Uhh Game” is one of those games that is almost impossible to understand without seeing it acted out. In fact, in person, I can explain how to do the activity in 5 minutes. I spent over an hour trying to explain the idea on paper. In the end, I’m not sure they ever really understood how to play the game. I felt that it was impossible to clearly communicate what I wanted to communicate.

That can happen often ministry. We explain something from our perspective. Unfortunately, the other person rarely has the same perspective. Hence, communication challenges ensue.

We’ve all been the recipient of ineffective communication. Actually, we’ve also all caused miscommunication. Finding a way to effectively communicate is such an important skill being a leader in ministry.

This classic video of Abbott and Costello shows, at an extreme, what can happen when we experience ineffective communication. Enjoy!

Question: When have you been the recipient of miscommunication?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Watf8_Rf58s]

John Rinaldo

As the Business Manager at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Morgan Hill, CA, Dr. John Rinaldo serves as the administrator over operations and finances for the parish in support of all parish ministries. Previously, John served as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of San Jose, empowering parish communities to minister to the needs of youth and young adults. John is also an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University teaching pastoral ministry courses to graduate students.