Why You Gotta Make Things So Complicated?

Communication is the enemy of complication.

On the flip side…

Miscommunication or lack of communication is the friend of complication.

Yesterday, I took a trip to our family physician to pick up a prescription for my son. This is something I’ve done once a month for a past 3 years. Every month I drive to the doctor’s office, sign a form, and walk out the door with the prescription in hand. Did I mention I’ve done this for 3 years? Yes? Ok. I think you get the point. Not yesterday.

Upon inquiring about my son’s prescription I was informed of a new policy. I now had to give the doctor’s office 48-hour notice prior to picking up the prescription. This was news to me. Imagine my surprise (and frustration). I didn’t receive a phone call. I didn’t receive an email. I didn’t receive a letter. I didn’t receive any notice whatsoever (I just wanted to write that word). I walked out. I had to. I was mad.

Yes, following Jesus does NOT exempt you from emotions.

It made me realize, “Communication is vital.” This is something I KNOW, yet something I often neglect. Communication is vital to a healthy relationship… whether it’s a marriage or work or ministry or business… communication is VITAL. As I stated earlier, communication is the enemy of complication. Had I been notified prior to my arrival the situation would’ve been vastly different. Instead, the situation was made unnecessarily complicated.

I wanted to ask how it was my problem? I wanted to point a finger (maybe at them… maybe upward…). I wanted to yell and scream and shout and get into a fight. Then I remembered something, “Nick, you’ve done and do the same exact thing to others.” BOOM.

That same night, while attending Step Study (an amazing group operating under the umbrella of Celebrate Recovery), I confessed how I hurt OTHERS due to my inability to communicate clearly and consistently. There it was, right in my face. I wasn’t a VICTIM; I was a HYPOCRITE. I want others to live up to expectations that I myself don’t live up to. Craziness.

Leaders, communicate, communicate, communicate, and communicate some more. There’s no such thing as OVER-communicating. Somebody’s gonna miss that email. Somebody’s gonna look past that text. Somebody’s gonna forget to check voicemail. But chances are NOBODY will miss all three. If you, as the leader, have something important to say, SAY IT. Get it out there. Let your people know.

Communication kicks the feet out from under complication.
Communication brings clarity.
Communication helps you lead effectively (I ran out of C words, but there’s a C in effe-c-tively).

Set some time aside today to evaluate your communication skills in your marriage, your job, your ministry, or all of the above.

Are you communicating enough? Are you saying what needs to be said? Do your people know what’s happening around them? Are you forecasting what’s to come?