A few weeks ago, I stood in a room full of people, caught completely off guard.

Someone I coach walked up and, without warning, launched into a passive-aggressive, public rebuke—while hugging me and saying she loved me.

The contrast was jarring. Her words were laced with emotion, her tone both affectionate and cutting. What she said—and how she said it—hit like a sucker punch that took my breath away.

In the moment, I stayed calm. I continually apologized for how she felt. And later, I invited another leader into the conversation to help us walk it out.

She did profusely apologize. And there was resolution, yes. But the sting stuck with me.

[PRO TIP] Communications matter. And when words and how they are delivered are misaligned—even unintentionally—they can leave wounds.

That moment reminded me of something deeper I see play out in the marketplace every day.

Most Communication Is Just Noise

We live in a chest-thumping culture. No surprise there.

Everywhere you turn, someone’s shouting their story, broadcasting their wins, or venting their frustration.

The cacophony screams: me-first. My way or the highway. Look at me. It’s loud and disconcerting.

What gets lost in the noise? The audience, the customers, and the people you’re actually trying to reach and serve.

[FACT] Marketing that centers only on what YOU want to say will always miss the people you’re trying to reach.

That’s not connection. That’s just broadcasting.

[PRO TIP] True communication—the kind that builds trust—isn't self-centered. It’s audience-aware.

Relationship-building communication is not about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the one who listens and responds to those needs.

Misalignment Isn’t Always Obvious, But It’s Always Felt

Messaging that misses the mark doesn’t always look like unethical tactics or bad copy. Sometimes, it’s more subtle. Perhaps:

• Your words sound good, but they don’t reflect how you actually serve.

• You're focused on yourself instead of what your audience understands and needs.

• You’re following someone else’s blueprint while unintentionally compromising your values.

• You’re following smoke-and-mirror formulas that promise pie-in-the-sky results but create disconnection instead of trust.

Even the best intentions can land wrong if the communication isn’t aligned.

And when you share ideas, thoughts, and even marketing campaigns that feel disconnected from your values, your audience can tell.

Stop Mirroring Others. Start Looking and Sounding Different

When you take a stand to show up authentically, you will stand out in the sea of noise.

My Joyful Communications framework makes it easy to do that.

Why? Because it’s more than a framework—it’s a Spirit-led approach to marketing with integrity. One that:

• Listens to others' needs and wants

• Puts solutions for helping others before performance

• Invites Holy Spirit in every communication
  (This last step always comes first.)

When we're communicating with Joyful Communications, we’re not just crafting clever messages. We’re pausing to seek clarity from Abba Father.

In turn, we will communicate (write, speak, market, etc.) from a place of alignment, not anxiety or keeping up with the Joneses.

This approach reflects authentic (not fabricated) trust.

And[PRO TIP] consistent, genuine trust is what turns transactions into relationships over time.

Questions to Catch Misalignment Early

So how do you make sure your communications are aligned—not just polished?

Here are five questions I often ask (myself, my clients, and Abba Father) before sending any message into the world:

1. Who am I really speaking to?

Before you write, take a beat. Ask: Is this message about me, or is it about the person I’m trying to serve?
If your message focused on "I" or "me," that might be a sign to refocus it.

2. What problem am I helping the person I'm communicating with solve?

Marketing is service. If you’re only sharing what’s on your mind—but never addressing what’s on theirs—the message will feel hollow. Lead with meaningful empathy, not just self-expression.

3. Am I writing from discernment or from trends that focus on pressure?

Messages that reflect pressure—from competition, deadlines, or fear—rarely land well. But when you write with peace, led by Holy Spirit, your words carry the weight of wisdom, not worry.

4. Would this communication land the same way over coffee?

If your tone wouldn’t match how you speak face-to-face, pause. Reframe it with relational clarity.

5. Am I trying to prove something—or provide something of value?

Your message will feel more like service when it’s rooted in value, not validation.

When in Doubt, Pause and Realign

That moment in the room reminded me that [PRO TIP] communication isn’t just strategy. It’s trust in action—because how we communicate either strengthens or erodes the very connections we're trying to build.

When our messaging gets off course—when the words we use don’t reflect who we are or Who we serve—we have an opportunity to realign.

With empathy.
With intention.
With truth.

That’s the invitation of Joyful Communications.

To move from noise to clarity.
From performance to partnership.
From transaction to trust.

A Gentle Nudge Before You Go

The Creator wired us for connection. And trust is the currency of that connection.

So the next time you draft a message, launch a campaign, or step onto a stage, ask yourself and Him:

Does this reflect Who I partner with? And does it serve the ones I’m called to reach?

Because when your message is aligned with your mission and led by Holy Spirit—people don’t just hear it.
They feel it.

"A wise communicator listens before speaking and seeks understanding before offering solutions." (Proverbs 18:13, Joy's Paraphrase)