Effective Communication

When I think of someone who is an effective communicator, I think of my husband. He is a pastor who works with men who have had life controlling addictions, struggles and have been in jail for various reasons. In the residential program that we serve in, my husband talks to these guys on a one-on-one basis, in group settings and once a week goes to the county jail to talk to the guys there. He creates an environment of caring, respectful interactions with a no nonsense point of view. He makes eye contact with them, engages them in the conversation and presents himself as the open and honest man he is. He speaks to them as if he is speaking to a friend and relates their situations with his own life choices before coming to know the Lord. I desire to model these communication skills! Being able to create an environment for open communication is so powerful and helpful to solving problems, creating relationships and connecting with people. I want to connect with people in authentic ways, and I believe if I am able to model some of the communication behaviors I see in my husband I will be able to do so.