Get Your Strategy On
Am I Provocative?
Sep272006 Filed under: Communications Author: Tony MorganIn case you missed it, we need to big up Kathy Sierra at Creating Passionate Users for this "provocative" post on how other thoughts, ideas and craziness of life compete for our attention…even when the message is important. (Uh…if you think you have an important message, you may want to pay attention to this.)
This is a great reminder that the Church isn’t competing with other churches for people’s attention. The reality is we’re competing with everything that people choose to focus on at any given moment. And, honestly, the normal person is rarely thinking about your ministry or your message. The point Kathy makes is that our message may be important, but it won’t capture people’s attention if it’s not compelling.
Among other things, Kathy challenges us with this statement:
"So this isn’t about having to bribe people into paying attention by sexing things up with graphics, sound, or shock. This is about helping the mind and the brain agree on what’s worth paying attention to. And if you want it to be you, then you better be the most provocative and interesting thing in their environment."
Who are you trying to reach with your message? Are they actually paying attention? If not, the easy thing to do is blame them for not listening. The harder thing to do is to determine how you might compel them to fully engage in your message.
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Tony Morgan is a pastor and the Chief Strategic Officer at NewSpring Church where he develops creative solutions for communications, technology and NewSpring Ministries--the church's ministry that equips other church leaders.
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Cory Miller
September 28th, 2006 at 11:12 am
Tony, I really enjoy Kathy’s posts … she makes you think!
I love the quote from the horse trainer: “The secret is to be more provocative and interesting than anything else in their environment.”
Personally, I think the challenge for us in the church is to put Jesus and His Message on centerstage in a way that naturally shows how truly counter-cultural (counter-human for that fact) He is.
Think about it … we worship a Crucified God. We serve a King who willingly clothed Himself to look, be, feel like one of His subjects … all to die in their place.
Amazing … that’s provocative.
–A church comm person struggling with these questions