Step 3 of Fulfilling Your Vision (Focused Communication)

Let’s recap -- In Step 1 you chose your twelve individuals who share a desire to support your vision - your champions. Step 2 formed your urgent purpose and made sure it is well defined and easily described. You are now ready to begin the crucial phase of talking, often times deeply, about your urgent purpose and why you are called to achieve that purpose. Step 3 is all about communication.

The simplicity of this step will often cause people to down play its importance ending in a half communicated effort. Instead, commit that you will over communicate to the point that your 12 targeted champions will say “enough! -- we get it -- let‘s start!”

You should package your urgent purpose in a three size message. One version should be the short version -- an “elevator speech” that quickly communicates your passionate desire. Secondly, you should have a 20 to 30 minute version that you can share one-on-one with those in your targeted champion group ensuring that you wrap the message in the personal passion that you have for the purpose. Lastly, you should have a one hour version that is more suitable for a group that passionately paints the picture for the purpose and the end result of pursuing that purpose.

Once you have your three messages ready to go, the fun now begins. It should be your driving desire for the next 30-days to communicate to your targeted champions your urgent purpose, encouraging them to join the effort and recruit twelve of their own champions to join them in their part of the effort. As they identify champions, you meet with them in larger and larger groups so they can hear from you and hear from each other. It is in this pattern of focused communication that momentum is born.

The focus during this phase is to communicate your urgent purpose to champions. It is not a time to debate or address the controversy that will come from the typical naysayer. The message is in search of willing hearts. If willingness is absent in one person, move on to the next. A positive momentum fueled by the passion of champions will overcome negative reactions over time.

Finally, be creative in your approach to sharing your urgent purpose. Draw pictures on napkins, create a logo, boil it down to a memorable phrase -- do whatever it takes to share the spirit and excitement of the purpose.

Through focused communication your urgent purpose takes root in the hearts of those who will join with you in the effort. Communication at this level takes deliberate planning to ensure there are no distractions and that the setting inspires understanding. Let your champion understand the importance this purpose plays in your life as well as how important they are to realizing the goal. Test their understanding and acceptance; listen to their questions and use what you learn to strengthen your approach in future discussions.

Communication is the key to success and the cause of most failures. Give this phase the thought and dedication that it deserves. It will make Step 4, the last step and our next article, go much better. Begin today sharing your urgent purpose with your chosen champions!

Here are links to all 4 steps:

Step One - Engaging Ministry Champions
Step Two - Defining an Urgent Purpose
Step Three - Focused Communication
Step Four - Aligning Effort