[This post is part of a brand new blog series, “Your Guide to Practicing the Essential Skills of a Worship Leader“. Check out the other posts here.]
If you want to influence, you need to speak.
There’s no question about it. The currency of effective leadership is communication. This is especially true as a worship leader.
There’s just one problem. I’m scared to death of it.
I have anxiety attacks as I prepare. I envision everyone hating me. I’ll even have nightmares where I’m leading worship in my underwear. Ok, TMI. Suffice it to say, public speaking isn’t cakewalk.
But through my years of leading worship, I’ve seen its importance firsthand. It’s not enough to simply sing songs – you must engage your audience on a personal level. Leading worship is more about building trust with your audience than it is performing flawless songs.
Since we’re in a series on practice, you owe it to yourself to practice your speaking. I’ve created a simple acrostic (S P E A K) to guide us.
5 Practice Tips To Improve How You S P E A K
Let’s take a look:
1. Speak to One Person
I didn’t make this up. I actually stole it from a recent newsletter by Chris Brogan. Often in our public speaking we address everyone as a whole. Instead, speak as if you’re talking to one person. Here’s what I mean:
- “How are you doing?” rather than “How is everybody doing?”
- “You know what I mean? rather than “You all know what I mean?
Audiences care about themselves. Address them as individuals. Visualizing one person will also help alleviate some stress.
2. Plan
I can’t tell you how many gifted worship leaders I’ve seen who could sing a phone book but made zero sense when they spoke. They spend plenty of time planning their songs and their band but when it comes to their transitions, they fall flat.
Plan what you are going to say. Carve an hour out of your week to plan that “public speaking” moment. Write it out. Type it on your iPad. Craft it like you would craft a worship song.
3. Engage Feelings
When you speak to a congregation, you want to engage their feelings. With every word, you are building trust. Oftentimes new guests, new Christians, and even unbelievers are in the room and they have no idea who you are or what you’re about. They’ll follow you if they trust you. Speak to their feelings. For example:
- “I know you may be new here…”
- “You may not be used to this sort of worship…”
- “Isn’t it wonderful to gather for the glory of God?”
If you can engage their feelings, they’ll follow you even if they dislike your music.
4. Audition Yourself
Beyond planning what you’re going to say, you need to actually say what you’re going to say. Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself speak.
Oftentimes I’ll think I have the greatest speech in world…until I deliver it. I find I don’t really know what I’m talking about. The outline is disorganized. There’s not enough humor, depth, or Scripture.
You must audition yourself.
5. Know Your Audience
Before you open your mouth to speak, it’s important to know your audience. If you’re a local church worship leader, that’s relatively easy. You minister to the same people week in and week out. If you travel, it’s a little more complicated. But knowing your audience goes a long way in knowing what to prepare.
So there you have it: S P E A K. Speak with boldness. Speak with compassion. Speak the words that God gives you.
God wants to use your words. And we need to hear them.
Question: Do you think public speaking is important to worship leading? How else can we improve? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Excellent tips.
Great advice David.
I think being authentic as well as the ability to adapt on the fly really add to the moment too. Although I don’t believe we should ever or always just shoot from the hip either.
I agree, Rob. I think that’s a skill we develop. Usually when I adapt on the fly I don’t make sense 🙂 Any tips for working on that?
Great stuff. I remember hearing about planning at a Willow Arts conference session with Joe Horness. He told a story about how shortly into his time at Willow, Bill Hybels called him into his office and, after some small talk, simply told him, “You are making mistakes on the platform on Sunday that should have been fixed during the week.” I think from there he was required to write out everything he’d say for a period of time. I took that to heart and started doing the same. I immediately noticed more effectiveness in my speaking. Even now I still go back to writing some things out and suggest it to others I mentor. Thanks for the post!
Joe, thanks for sharing that story. I could feel the intensity of that conversation 🙂 But it’s so true! I think I’m going to use that statement.
Wonderful advice. I sent this out to my worship leaders. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Glenda! I hope they like it 😉
Loved this David! My husband and I lead our worship group as a team. He hates speaking, but luckily I love it. There are great tips in your post for both of us. I had never thought of the first one (speak to one person) but will for sure use that in the future!
Looking forward to more in this series!
Thanks Miranda! Nice that you guys make a great team.
Thanks! Great tips!
wow love the 5 things…yes we need to speak not just to be heard but to influence and make an impact in every ministry God calls us…
Thanks David – this is area I find difficult. I have become stuck in a rut of reading out other peoples words, like celtic prayers, poems etc and of course scripture although that is obviously OK!! I need to be more thoughtful during the week of what God wants to say to our congregation through me. Having said that, I sometimes get a sense of something to say during a service, but 99% of the time I chicken out of saying it.
So, thanks again, these tips are really helpful.
Great tip’s, thank you so much !! I sometimes notice the eye’s of the many younger youth in the congregation and realize how their eye’s are transfixed on you as you lead worship. The one amazing thing I’ve learned is to notice the eye’s of God that are watching you also, this keep me in a place of humility when the big intro was due, or the huge drum builds with flashy cymbals accent’s come up….Its really easy for me to make it about the “me” moments because everyone is watching, but I’m praising God and His wonder not mine….God doesn’t want us to be hero’s He want’s us to be holy 🙂
Great point, James. God is watching. Is He pleased with what he sees?
Great thoughts David. I think it is vitally important what we say as much as what songs we sing. Those things go together. It’s not the worship person’s job to preach the sermon, but avoiding speaking at all is just as bad. Love #2 about preparation. I find that the weeks I spend quality time in prep for what I will say to connect stuff and point people to go tend to go better than those weeks where I wing it. Having a reservoir of Scriptures and thought on God is important, but prepping helps take it to the next level. I’ve read that Bob Kauflin spends time like this in prep, and encourages developing this skill in worship leaders that we are mentoring.
Do you keep a “reservoir” of Scriptures handy for your preparation? I like that idea.
Yeah, as I read different stuff, I’ll just down different scriptures (either in Evernote or on a post it note) that I come across that could possibly work with upcoming service themes. There are some that I’ve committed to memory from using frequently that I can easily refer to in prayers and transitions. I also have a couple of docs focused on calls to worship, benediction, confession, assurance, etc scriptures that I can refer to through my iPhone during a service.
Chris, I have some really good prayers and docs that I use too….do you just “read” them out, or do you explain what they are? I’m starting to feel a bit as if I’m just reading out other peoples words.
Depends on the context and placement of that particular element in the service. Sometimes I’ll just “read” them, other times I will draw attention to the background of the item and explain how the church in the past also used this or about the person who wrote it and why. It all depends. I’ve sometimes had the congregation read it along with me from the screen if it isn’t too long. I mix up using historical stuff and things that I develop from the congregation based on where they are and the theme of the day. I think that the selection of the verbal elements is as important as the selection of songs in helping people remember and respond. If there is something great that already exists, I don’t feel the need to recreate the wheel. I’m also not opposed to adapting as necessary. Part of the key is being familiar with it so it is natural as it is delivered.
These are very useful tips David, should consider having a module on this in worship training programs!
What worship training programs are you referring to?
Sorry, I meant all worship training programs.
Man, great post. Just came off leading a chapel service where I felt like I need to work on my speaking. Thanks for confirming that.
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Thanks Min. David Santistivan i think the only thing remailning now is for me to see you because part of you is already robbing on me.. Public speaking even as a NEW worship leader is one thing i am still finding hard, and am going to minister with my worship band next week friday i dont really know.. But am trusting God to take charge.. David thanks alot for your articles…
Hi!
Great post! I’m a bit late to the conversation, but this is something I’ve really been trying to work with our worship leaders on more recently, Some are definitely more proficient than others but the ‘others’ are learning. I’m curious to know what would change if you were addressing different audiences–how do you prepare differently?
Hi Janette, I don’t change much. I simply try and use the “language” of the people who are in the room. I can speak to a room full of youth different than I would a room full of senior citizens. My suggestion would be to identify different segments of your congregation and practice speaking to them behind the scenes. Does that make sense?
God has really been dealing with me about this very issue believe it or not for about 2 years. I have no issue speaking publicly but I only hit this road block as a worship leader. I appreciate this article because I have finally made up in my spirit that it’s what I’m being asked to do and I will obey. Great tips. Thank you.
This is really good! I have been struggling with my communication with the audience and also crippled by fear. This has helped me tremendously! I’m Planning now!