What makes good communicators so good? What is it they do that others don’t? If we can answer these questions, we can all get better as public speakers.
 
      I’ve never met a youth pastor or youth worker who didn’t want to get better as a speaker. We all want to get better. It’s not a lack of desire holding us back, but a lack of practical skills that separates great communicators from average ones.
 
     I recently got to sit in a series of meetings to critique and coach up a group of young communicators. Seven of us preached at our church in July, and these meetings were an opportunity to learn and receive coaching from those ahead of us. In these meetings, I noticed five things that separate good communicators from average communicators.
 
     So, if you want to grow as a communicator, I recommend growing in the following areas. The best communicators and preachers I know carry these five attributes.
 

Five Reasons Good Communicators are Good

Good Communicators are Comfortable

Good communicators are comfortable when they speak. No matter the platform or crowd, they carry themselves without tension and stress. When a communicator is uncomfortable, so is the audience. The people you’re speaking to can feel it. The same is true when you’re comfortable, they can feel that too and it puts listeners at ease.
 
Think about it. Have you ever watched a stressed and nervous communicator speak a life changing message? Probably not. When a communicator is uncomfortable, their discomfort keeps people from hearing their heart.
 
So how do you become more comfortable on stage? A friend of mine gives great advice on this: Start with what makes you comfortable. We all have something that calms us down when speaking, so what is it for you?
 
If praying calms you down, start with a prayer. If reading scripture helps you, read your key passage early. Whatever it is that makes you comfortable, use it as an anchor when you speak. Comfortable communicators speak better, so do whatever it takes to get comfortable on stage. Your audience deserves it!

Good Communicators are Confident

Confidence is defined as “having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed.” Good communicators are confident in what they have to say and believe people need to hear it. They believe they have something important to say, and are confident it will help others who apply it.
 
When a communicator believes what they have to say matters, so will their audience. Believe in your message, believe in the gifts God has given you, and walk in that belief. When you speak God’s word in confidence, you’ll have a greater impact than you ever thought possible!

Good Communicators are Clear

The best communicators are clear communicators. They know what they want to say and say it simply, clearly, and concisely. Good communicators have just a few points, and illustrate why they matter and what to do with them.
 
They tell you more than what you need to know, they also tell you what you need to do with it. When you speak, does your audience know what their next step is and how to put your message into practice? If not, you’re not being clear enough.

Clarity is kindness, so be kind to your students by speaking clearly about what God has given you to say.
 

Good Communicators are Conversational

Good communicators feel like good friends. You’ve heard communicators like this before. You don’t know them personally, but when they’re done speaking you feel like you do. You feel comfortable around them for some reason, at ease even. Why? Simple, it’s because they’re conversational.
 
Conversational communicators speak in a way that’s easy and effortless. They tend to be story tellers who pull back the curtain and let you into their life. They share failures and successes, and through their stories they empower listeners to live out their own.
 
A conversational communicator makes the listener feel like more than a part of their story, but like they’re a part of a bigger one. They make you feel the same way you do after an encouraging coffee with a good friend. Like you can do more, be more, and achieve more.
 
If you want to be more conversational in your speaking, be real, be authentic, and tell your story.
 

Good Communicators are Critical

The best communicators I know are the most critical. Not to say they don’t have confidence in their abilities. They definitely do. However, they are hyper critical of themselves. They critique every message by watching it or listening to it. No matter how good of a message it was, they find what could be better and work tirelessly to fix it.
 
If you want to be a great communicator, no one should be more critical of your message than you. Good communicators value making it better, because they know they can always get better. They don’t just know it, but work hard to make it a reality.

So what about you? What do you think makes a good communicator? How can you grow in your speaking ability? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!