by Tim Salley
To CC or not to CC, that is the question. For the purposes of this article, CC stands for carbon copy. The definition for CC is, “to send a duplicate of a document, e-mail, or the like.” An example of its usage – “I always CC my boss when I write a memo to my staff.”
Effective communication between ministry leaders, staff and partners is a very key component to ministry achievement and success in our Kingdom endeavors. Effective communication can keep us from being misunderstood. Effective communication can keep us from offending others. Effective communication can help us fulfill protocols. Effective communication can show others that we respect authority and leadership. Effective communication is enhanced when we utilize the function called CC.
Social media has exploded in the last decade to include applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogging, and the like. These have made the world a more close-knit community than ever before. The most effective way to communicate with our ministry leaders, staff and partners, however, remains email. Email is a more formal, business-like way to communicate. Social media has its place, but email continues to be the most effective avenue to communicate with co-laborers in the Harvest Fields.
Email is instant and ubiquitous. Almost all of humanity now has an email address. I communicate by email with people from every continent. I communicate by email with the wealthiest of our world and with the poorest of the poor. But I have noticed one thing about email. Most do not utilize the CC function in their email communications. Why is this the case? I honestly don’t know!
I want to shout it from the housetops: “Please utilize the CC function in your emails!!” In the long run, it will keep you from being misunderstood and offending others, it will help you to fulfill communication protocols, and it will show others that you respect authority and leadership in your life and ministry.
A few years back, a new national leader was chosen in one of the countries where we have ministry. This leader made a decision to improve the communication between the national leadership team and myself. He set a new protocol that instituted the use of the CC function in all email communication between himself, the national leadership team and myself. After working out a few kinks, it has proven to be a very effective way to communicate together as we partner in the work of the Kingdom to spread the GOOD NEWS in that country.
Are there any benefits to utilizing the CC function? Yes there are! Here are a few:
- It keeps ALL parties within a ministry team included and informed in ministry endeavors. No one feels left out or slighted. This is a big deal as it fosters and enhances the team’s cohesion and unity.
- It allows for ALL parties within a ministry team to share comments, thoughts and insights with the entire team regarding the topic included in the communication. Thus, the ministry team can utilize all the experience and wisdom of all its members.
- It allows for a record of the conversation for that particular topic.
- It shows that you have a healthy regard for authority and leadership and that you respect and honor that authority and leadership. God blesses that!
So what are you waiting for? Begin to utilize the CC function in your emails. You have a responsibility to keep your ministry leaders, staff and partners in the loop of what’s happening. It only takes a few extra seconds to add a CC. It will keep the others that minister alongside of you happier!! And it will help you to increase your communication effectiveness. So go ahead, start CC’ing today!