Society often presents the “people person” as an outgoing extrovert. Yet it is no surprise that most church techs are introverts. Many of us love serving in the booth just so we don’t have to talk to others. While we can talk shop for hours with our peers, when it comes to casual chit-chat, no thanks.
However, leaders are more than the ones in the room who know the most about the equipment, they are the ones who know how to use their craft to connect people. In our case, we connect the lost, the suffering, those in need, and those who can help, to our living God and Savior. So while we do need to know our craft well, for long-term success, we really need to be able to relate to the people we lead and serve.
Here are four key steps to becoming a biblical people person.
1. Treat every interaction as a God appointment. We have all glanced at someone and thought we should say something, but for some reason or another we pass on it. That calling, however, could be the power of the Spirit at work. Talking to that person is an appointment God planned for us and them. The first step is always the hardest--it takes a leap of faith. Yet, Philippians 2:4 reminds us not to look out for only own interests, but the interests of others. By doing so, we develop relationships that become deeper than casual acquaintances. We create opportunities for life change to happen.
2. Remember, it’s not about you. Often the biggest hurdle to being social is not knowing what to say. There’s an old sales adage that if you can get your customer to talk 90% of the time and you’re only talking 10%, the sale becomes substantially easier to close. Part of that is because many people enjoy talking about themselves, but it is also because we have an inherent need to be heard. This is even more true for people who are hurting and lost. Asking open-ended questions and quietly listening without distraction shows that you care about the answer. Rather than asking, “How’s is going,” where “good” is an acceptable answer, try asking, “Point two really got me thinking today, what are your thoughts on applying it this week?” Then funnel. Follow up with a question based on their answer. It shows you were listening and you care. Over time, they will probably turn the question to you. You have now made a real connection with someone because you made it about them.
3. Be willing to be vulnerable. Second Corinthians 12:10 states that “for when I am weak, then I am strong.” When we let the power of God work through others on our behalf, we are strengthened. That requires that we let others serve us, as well. As leaders, we often fear appearing vulnerable because we believe it lessens the respect they will have for us. Society tells us that leadership is equated with strength. Servant leadership, however, means connecting with others at a heart level. This means letting God work in us, through them. Just as we have been placed in their lives, they have likewise been placed by God in ours. Being open about our challenges allows our team to invest their insights about God into us. Sharing the love of the Lord goes both ways, and when people help others, they too feel their service to Christ in a stronger way.
4. Make engagement a habit. Consistency is key. It’s one thing to find out what is going on in the lives of your team; it’s another to follow up, demonstrating that you truly listened and care. Trust develops over time. Being a people person means that your team knows that you view them as more than Planning Center slots to be filled. Their feeling of purpose is tied to the way they feel you value them. Being a people person means that you engage with your people each time you see them--even in the midst of the stress.
Becoming a people person in a biblical sense is about connecting with the people of God to share with them the love of God. It is letting those you lead and do ministry with feel valued.
Note: Josiah Way, PhD, CTS, is a keynote speaker at the Capture Content Creation and Filmmaking Summit 2019.
