Adaptable Communicators

Who we are

Adaptable communicators who seek to listen to, engage, and positively influence audiences in varied social, professional and cultural contexts

Questions to consider

In all of the Wellbeing Guides these same 5 questions are applied to the Characteristic being highlighted. They are an invitation to reflect on the Characteristic and to consider for yourself why it is important.

Why does being an adaptable communicator matter?

What impact do adaptable communicators have?

What does this mean for you in practice?

How might you be able to grow in being an adaptable communicator? 

If you are in leadership, how are you encouraging others to grow in being adaptable communicators?

If you would like to be reminded of all the Characteristics in the Wycliffe Profile, go to the following page:

Introducing the Welcome Guides

Spiritual Foundations

for Adaptable Communicators

“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

1 Cor 9.22-23

Paul’s approach to sharing the gospel cross-culturally was deeply pragmatic. He used every possible means to communicate with the people he met, no matter how different they were. He was able to do this because he was confident both in his identity, he knew who he was and was secure in the knowledge that what he had to say mattered. This space gives you an opportunity to reflect on where your confidence is coming from and how it is impacting your ability to be adaptable and engage well with others.

In the Wellbeing Guides you will find paragraphs (like the one in the green box below) that express what the particular Characteristic being highlighted might look like using active verbs such as: ‘I am maintaining’, ‘I am seeking to grow…’. These paragraphs try to capture aspects of what each Characteristic is about as holistically as possible.

In terms of spiritual foundations, the same paragraph is used in each Guide, but is applied each time through the lens of the Characteristic in focus. Hence, very different questions arise from exploring the idea of, for example, ‘extending grace to others’ as Adaptable Communicators and as Innovative Investigators.

I am maintaining and deepening my spiritual walk, seeking to grow more like Christ through God’s grace. I am extending that grace to others, whole-heartedly participating in community life and demonstrating the fruit of the spirit. I am seeking to grow in understanding and engagement with the leading of the Holy Spirit, through prayer, study and reflection with others.

Adaptable communication is founded on a solid understanding of unchanging truths. It involves the skilful art of conveying these truths through various mediums and approaches, tailored to suit different audiences. Confidence plays a vital role in executing this effectively. When our confidence is grounded in our identity in Christ, we can seek His wisdom to discern when and how to adapt our communication. We can engage with others, exert influence, and remain anchored in what is right and true. By drawing from our faith, we navigate the complexities of communication with grace and purpose, ensuring that the message we convey aligns with eternal principles while resonating with diverse individuals.

YOU AND YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD

If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.

Tim Keller
  • How does being chosen and accepted by God through our identity in Christ shape our self-worth and confidence, and what significance does this hold in our lives?
  • How would you personally define confidence, and how does it contribute to your overall sense of well-being and personal growth?
  • Reflecting on different areas of your life, where do you think you may have an excess or deficiency of confidence, and how does this impact your experiences and interactions?
  • In what ways does your relationship with God influence and bolster your confidence levels, and how does it provide a source of support and encouragement?
YOU AND LISTENING WELL

The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins in listening to his Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  • How does your sense of identity influence your level of confidence and your capacity to effectively communicate with and listen to others?
  • In recent times, whom do you believe God has brought into your life, and how might you need to purposefully practice intentional listening towards them?
  • Among the individuals you mentioned, which ones do you find it easier to be around, and which ones present more of a challenge?
  • Why do you think this might be? 
  • Based on your reflection, what changes or adjustments might be necessary to help with your communication and listening skills in relation to the people God has brought into your life?
GOING DEEPER

Here we highlight ideas and resources, which you are of course free to explore or not. We have tried to come up with different ways to engage with the topics, suggesting activities, books, blogs, videos….that may interest you. We also encourage you to browse our Library of Resources and/or talk to others, including your Pastor or Spiritual Director or mentor, if you have one, for some recommendations.

Confidence and Identity

  • Take a moment to think about the verse ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Ps 139.14 NIV) and pay attention to your emotions as you ponder the full meaning of that verse, and bring them to God in prayer – here are some other versions:
    • Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it. NLT
    • Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvellously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. The Message
    • I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. The Amplified Bible
  • Consider asking 5 people to give you 3 words that describe you – take some time to put them together – group them in different ways, look for connections and themes, then pray about what you are seeing and ask God to help you build on your strengths and be honest about where you need to grow.
  • Read: McGrath, Joanna & McGrath, Alistair – Self-esteem: the Cross and Christian confidence – In this book, Joanna McGrath, a psychologist, and Alister McGrath, a theologian, explore a number of crucial questions, including; what is self-esteem?; are Christians allowed to have positive self-esteem?; what about sin and humility?; are psychological approaches to counselling anti-Christian?; how can I nurture self-esteem in myself and in other people? They demonstrate the centrality of the cross to a Christian understanding of self-esteem, and the importance of secure parental attachment to God in Christ for an authentic experience of self-worth. Their analysis also provides a sure-footed guide through current secular approaches in psychology and psychotherapy, revealing some of the strengths and weaknesses of these views.

Listening to others

  • Next time you meet someone new, consider keeping the whole conversation focused on them – what they are doing, what they are planning, what they are experiencing…as you do so, pay attention to how hard or easy you find it to let others talk.
    • If you find it hard – ask God to help you learn to listen well
    • If you find it easy – do you transfer this skill to your relationship with God – how easy do you find it to listen to God?
  • Take some time each week to chat to a colleague you would not normally spend time with. Find out about their work, what they enjoy and what are their challenges. Ask them about their families and offer to pray for them
  • Listen to this TedX talk by William Ury, The Power of Listening and consider taking his advice. Ponder the importance the Bible places on listening (a quick word search on Bible Gateway on the word listen brings up 412 references) and what Ury is saying…what are your thoughts? Take some time to listen to God about this, and to yourself and consider who you might have in the spotlight when you chat to people. Actively decide to put the next person you chat to into the spotlight!
  • Try reading in a small group Tom Schwarz’ book – Dalek Christianity – described as ‘perfect for small groups, this book offers thought-provoking questions for discussion. Through eight engaging chapters, you’ll delve into important issues like culture, language, and the various struggles that people face. You’ll also learn how to listen more effectively and gain insights into why we all have different perspectives.‘
Inside Wycliffe
Outside Wycliffe
  • Life Coaching:
    • Ask your church for recommendations
    • If you are with SIL your area might have some recommendations or people who offer life coaching in. your Area
    • The UK International Coach Federation have a Find a Coach page organised geographically in the UK
    • The Christian Coach Mentor Network also have a Find a Mentor/Coach page organised geographically in the UK
  • Counselling
    • Ask your church for recommendations
    • If you are with SIL your area might have some recommendations or people who offer counselling in your Area
    • The NHS has a page, Types of Talking Therapy, with a full explanation of what the options might be and how to access them

Retreats

Adaptable Communicators and…

Engaging with Difference

In the context of being Adaptable Communicators, the inclusion and value given to others by yourself and those you work with really matters. Consequently, the perception and embracing of difference, alongside the inclusion and valuing of others are key concepts to consider. The paragraph below will be used twice in this Guide to think about these concepts and explore their significance.

I live, work and serve effectively with people from a variety of cultures. I proactively seek to understand their viewpoints, promote diversity and seek the inclusion of all voices. I learn from and value people from different backgrounds and recognise the need to adapt my behaviour to different contexts.

As Adaptable Communicators, it is crucial to actively engage with the challenges presented by cultural diversity. This involves recognising and embracing the differences that exist among individuals, and seeking opportunities to learn from them. By doing so, you can expand your own understanding, broaden your perspectives, and develop a greater appreciation for the richness that diversity brings. Take the time now to reflect on your experiences, and explore the encounters you have had while living, working, and serving alongside others. Consider the various ways in which cultural diversity has influenced your interactions and the dynamics within your environment. Reflect on how you have approached these encounters and consider whether there may be areas where you can grow in fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for those around you.

YOU AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

What you see and hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.

C.S. Lewis
  • What have you learned recently about the perspectives and viewpoints of people you work with? 
  • How well do you understand their experience of working with you?
  • What differences in perception, or approach have you noticed? 
  • What are you doing to understand them, or to help them understand you, better?
YOU AND WHO YOU INVITE TO THE TABLE

As leaders we are called to see potential in people when others see only problems, hope when others see chaos, opportunities when others see obstacles.

Krish Kandiah
  • In your work context, what opportunities and potential do you see in the people around you?
  • Where are the minority voices in your context? 
    • How well are you listening to those voices?
    • How much time do you give to ensuring their inclusion?
    • What stops you from doing this?
  • Where do you think unconscious bias (an unfair belief about a group of people that you are not aware of and that affects your behaviour and decisions – Oxford Learner’s Dictionary) might be at play in those around you or in your own responses?
GOING DEEPER

Here we highlight ideas and resources, which you are of course free to explore or not. We have tried to come up with different ways to engage with the topics, suggesting activities, books, blogs, videos….that may interest you. We also encourage you to browse our Library of Resources and/or talk to others, including your Pastor or Spiritual Director or mentor, if you have one, for some recommendations.

Exploring difference
  • With your family or a group of friends, watch a film such as (just examples) Mr Holland’s Opus (youtube), Dead Poet’s Society and Green Book (both amazon prime) or Avatar (Disney+) where relating to others with different perspectives is tackled in different ways. Discuss what the challenges were in relations to difference, how they approached dealing with it and whether you would have reacted similarly or differently.
  • Ask someone who is very to different to you:
    • What do you have in common with your childhood self?
    • If you had your own TV show, what would it be about?
    • If you had an extra hour every day, how would you spend it?
    • If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be?
    • What words would you pass to your childhood self?
    • Or make up some of your own questions to understand them a bit better
  • If you have not done any reading or training on cross-cultural perspectives try the following:
    • Think about doing the Explore Course at All Nations College or Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills – see the Courses to Consider tab for a link
    • If you are in leadership or management and deal with cross-cultural issues consider taking the Knowing me, Knowing you: Worldview and Interpersonal Dynamics online course – see the Courses tab

How adaptable are you?

  • If you like Myers- Briggs consider reading about your personality type and adaptability
  • Read a bit more about Adaptability in this article:
  • Think about taking up a new hobby or trying something you would normally avoid. If you dismiss this as an idea, think about why – are you unwilling to step outside your comfort zone? are you so busy you cannot take the time? Consider doing this in spite of how you feel!
Inside Wycliffe
Outside Wycliffe
  • Your Pastor
  • Spiritual Director – you can ask your parish priest for the name of a spiritual director, or you can click here and you will be taken to a London based page that lists spiritual directors from around the country
Cross-cultural training

The online course Knowing me, Knowing you: Worldview and Interpersonal Dynamics is for Staff Care practitioners and anyone who has staff care as part of their job description. It is intended to provide you with the opportunity to grow in your awareness of your own and different worldviews, and their impact on interpersonal relationships. To know more contact: dineke_devries@sil.org; sharon_merz@wycliffe.ch or johannes.merz@wycliffe.org.uk 

  • All Nations Christian College offers a variety of course – En Route, Explore, Express and Envision, in person and online, that “all seek to build intercultural learning communities with people from different cultures, generations, theological streams and educational backgrounds as a means of preparing them for the opportunities and challenges of contemporary mission”.
Interpersonal Skills
  • Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshop – SYIS is a course that has a whole section on dealing with conflict
    • It is run globally by ITP, International Training Partners with workshops Online and In situ
    • If you are with SIL this course may be run in your Area.

Adaptable Communicators and…

Influencing Others

The emphasis in this second look at the paragraph below is on how we go about including others in what we do and learning to fit our responses to diverse contexts.

I live, work and serve effectively with people from a variety of cultures. I proactively seek to understand their viewpoints, promote diversity and seek the inclusion of all voices. I learn from and value people from different backgrounds and recognise the need to adapt my behaviour to different contexts.

How we value and include others from different backgrounds and how we react in different contexts matters. Taking time to think through for yourself where you might need to see change is always important. It is part of God’s call to us, as Bible People (one of Wycliffe’s Values), to act on his Word and love our neighbour.

YOU AND CONNECTING WITH OTHERS

“It is far easier to be a Christian in isolation than it is to live out one’s faith in context of all those other imperfect people who make up God’s church.

Gordon Fee
  • Under what circumstances do you tend to instinctively withdraw from people rather than engage with them as your initial response?
  • What strategies or approaches do you employ to recognise when it is important to overcome this tendency and actively engage with others?
  • In what situations do you catch yourself prioritising your own approach over the needs of others?
  • How do you proactively address this tendency and find a balance between prioritising the needs of others and prioritising your own needs?
YOU AND THE IMPACT OF KINDNESS

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

Mother Teresa
  • Take a moment to think about kindness: ‘the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate’ and its impact on how you communicate.
  • How do you feel when people are kind towards you?
  • How likely are you to be described as kind by the people with whom you live and work?
  • Think about a time when you have felt deeply misunderstood – was your initial reaction to ‘fight’ for understanding, to run away or simply withdraw emotionally?
    • How might kindness have helped in this situation?
YOU AND CONFLICT IN COMMUNICATION

“Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and keeping it. That factor is attitude.”

William James
  • Can you recall a recent conflict that you have encountered and had to resolve?
  • What role did you play in the conflict situation?
  • What specific strategies or approaches did you employ to work towards a resolution?
  • Upon reflection, what aspects do you believe could have been handled differently or more effectively?
  • If the conflict remains unresolved, is there someone specific you can speak with to seek further guidance or assistance in resolving the issue?
GOING DEEPER

Here we highlight ideas and resources, which you are of course free to explore or not. We have tried to come up with different ways to engage with the topics, suggesting activities, books, blogs, videos….that may interest you. We also encourage you to browse our Library of Resources and/or talk to others, including your Pastor or Spiritual Director or mentor, if you have one, for some recommendations.

Building connections
  • Take some time to look at the network of people you have around you. One way to do this is to draw a series of 3 concentric circles with ‘A’ in the middle, ‘B’ next and ‘C’ on the outside. Then consider the people you know and place them in each of the circles as appropriate, where A = close friends and family, B = good friends/colleagues – people you see lot of at work/church/ in the community and C = casual friends/colleagues you see infrequently or are less close to. As you look at each person in the circles ask yourself the following questions:
    • How can I encourage this person to grow?
    • How might I be able to influence them to reach their potential?
    • How might I be able to help them be heard if they are a minority voice?
    • Are there people who are in the outside circle who you could invite into one of the inner circles?
  • Watch this short video from Canada #EatTogether – what do you recognise about yourself and those around you? Consider inviting people who you don’t know very well over for a meal.
  • If you lead a team…do something different to help people get to know each other better – plan an afternoon activity, have some virtual coffee together…
Exploring kindness
  • Next time you find yourself in a misunderstanding with someone consciously prioritise what you can do to be kind in that situation
  • Do a Bible study on the word kind/kindness
  • Watch this short youtube video by Simon Sinek, The Power of Kindness, talking about what happens physiologically when we are kind and what difference that could make
  • Write a letter or email to someone who has been kind to you – tell them what it meant and why it mattered
Exploring conflict
  • If you do not know it, consider doing a conflict styles quiz by googling for one, or try this one from the US Institute of Peace
  • Read this article for managers on Conflict Management Styles
  • If you need to have a difficult conversation with someone try reading this book for some ideas – Susan Scott Fierce Conversations
  • If you are dealing with cross-cultural issues causing conflict, have a look at Duane Elmer’s book called Cross-Cultural Conflict
Inside Wycliffe
Outside Wycliffe
  • Your Pastor
  • Spiritual Director – you can ask your parish priest for the name of a spiritual director, or you can click here and you will be taken to a London based page that lists spiritual directors from around the country
Managing conflict
  • Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills Workshop – this course covers a wide variety of issues including burnout, conflict and cross-cultural communication. It says about itself: SYIS is designed to provide Christian workers and Christ followers everywhere with the essential biblical knowledge, attitudes and skills for relating well with co-workers, family members, friends and those from other cultures.
  • In the UK, ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) offer various training courses including People Management and Dispute and Conflict Resolution
  • For some helpful online courses on understanding your own responses to challenging people, if you have access, take a look at SIL’s training:

Adaptable communicators who seek to listen to, engage, and positively influence audiences in varied social, professional and cultural contexts.