Why Great Messages Still Fail by Gemma Hunt
Many pastors know how to write a sermon. Far fewer have been taught how to deliver one.
It’s a real privilege and honour for me to welcome Gemma Hunt as a contributor to Wisdom Digest.
Many people will recognise Gemma from her work on CBeebies, as well as her involvement in the Alpha Film Series, where she has helped communicate the Christian faith to audiences around the world. She is an outstanding communicator and an incredible professional, and honestly, I count her as a bit of a hero. I’m humbled and grateful that she has taken the time to share her insight with us.
One of the things I’m passionate about as leaders is that we continually grow in how we communicate. Whether that’s preaching, teaching, casting vision, or simply leading people well, communication sits right at the centre of leadership.
So who better to learn from than someone who has spent decades communicating on stages, screens, and platforms around the world.
For anyone who wants to grow in this area, Gemma also runs coaching designed to help people build confidence and communicate clearly and effectively. You can explore her course here:
https://www.gemmahunt.com/coaching
Here are Gemma insights surrounding communication for us as leaders…
Communication Sits at the Heart of Leadership
Communication sits at the heart of leadership. Whether you are preaching on a Sunday, leading a staff meeting, or sharing vision with a team, the question is rarely just what you say. More often, the real question is how people experience what you say.
Over the years I have noticed something curious. Many leaders put enormous care into writing their message, but very little attention into how that message will actually be delivered. Yet the delivery is often the very thing that determines whether people remember what was said.
If You Are Just Starting Out
One of the best things you can do as a communicator is learn to see your message through someone else’s eyes.
Write what you want to say, then let someone else read it. Ask them simple questions.
Does it make sense?
Does it flow?
Do the key points stand out?
Then take it a step further. Record yourself saying it. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but watching yourself back can be surprisingly revealing. You notice things you never realised before, perhaps a rushed pace, distracted body language, or moments where your voice drops away.
Research often referenced from Albert Mehrabian suggests that communication is shaped far more by tone and body language than by the words alone. In other words, the message is not just spoken, it is embodied.
Learning to review yourself in this way can feel daunting, but it is also one of the fastest ways to grow in confidence.
The Three Ps of Standout Communication
When I am preparing to speak, I always come back to three simple stages.
Planning, preparation and presentation.
Planning is about clarity. Gather your material, but do not feel the need to say everything. A strong message is often one that knows what to leave out. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is create space for curiosity, allowing people to ask questions or explore further afterwards.
Preparation is where the message finds its rhythm. Speak it aloud. Practise it. Refine it. Recording yourself can help you notice where things feel natural and where they feel forced. Sharing it with someone you trust can also bring valuable feedback.
Presentation is where it all comes together. When the groundwork has been done, you are free to focus on connection. Think about your tone, your pace, your posture.
Are you speaking with warmth and conviction?
Are you allowing your personality to come through?
People respond not only to information, but to authenticity.
The Blind Spots We Often Miss
A common trap for communicators is assuming that strong content will automatically translate into strong communication. In reality, the delivery carries just as much weight.
Another blind spot is pace. Nerves have a habit of making us speak faster than we realise. But your listeners are hearing the message for the first time. Pausing allows space for people to think, reflect and absorb what they have heard.
The pause is not awkward, it is powerful.
And communication does not end when the talk finishes. Some of the most meaningful moments often happen in the conversations afterwards. Being available, or providing notes or follow up material, allows the message to continue beyond the room.
Helping Others Find Their Voice
After more than twenty years performing on stage, I now spend much of my time helping others grow in confidence as communicators. Through workshops and training sessions I work with leaders who want to communicate more clearly, whether that is preaching, presenting, speaking on camera, or leading meetings.
Many church leaders are wonderfully equipped to write thoughtful sermons, yet they have rarely been given practical tools for delivering them with confidence. When people learn how to use their voice, body language and presence well, their message begins to connect in a completely different way.
Good communication is not about performance for its own sake. It is about helping people hear what matters.
And when that happens, words have the power to stay with people long after the moment has passed.
Good communication is not about performance for its own sake. It is about helping people hear what matters.
And when that happens, words have the power to stay with people long after the moment has passed.
I delve much deeper into these principles within my course and work with people in both group and one-to-one settings to build their confidence and equip them to speak clearly and effectively.
For anyone interested in learning more about the course or working together, more information can be found here:
https://www.gemmahunt.com/coaching
Bio
Gemma Hunt is an award-winning TV presenter, children’s author and public speaker. Raised in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, she began performing at an early age through ballet, drama and local pantomime before going on to achieve a First Class degree in Media Performance from the University of Bedfordshire.
Gemma joined CBBC in 2003, where she spent a decade presenting flagship programmes including Xchange, Smile, Bamzooki and All Over the Place. Her work took her around the world, filming in Australia, South America and Africa, and presenting live from major events such as Wimbledon, Buckingham Palace and the Royal Albert Hall.
In 2013 she moved to CBeebies, becoming a household name as one of the presenters of the hit pirate game show Swashbuckle, now in its eighth series with over 200 episodes and a Children’s BAFTA for Best Entertainment Show. Gemma was also nominated for Best Presenter at the Children’s BAFTAs and has appeared across numerous CBeebies productions, including Justin’s House, CBeebies Bedtime Stories and multiple CBeebies Presents dramas.
Beyond children’s television, Gemma joined Songs of Praise in 2020 and has hosted a wide range of live and recorded programmes across TV, radio and festivals. She presents the BBC Education radio show Together, regularly hosts large-scale live events, and has filmed for the Alpha Film Series.
In 2022, Gemma became a published children’s author with See! Let’s Be… A Good Friend, followed by See! Let’s Be ME! in 2023. Her books use storytelling and her own mixed-race family to explore faith, friendship, diversity and emotional wellbeing.
Alongside broadcasting and writing, Gemma delivers confidence and public-speaking coaching and hosts children’s pirate parties. More information can be found at www.gemmahunt.com.