Good communication is critical for a school to function properly. From the Principal to teachers, office staff as well as janitors and groundskeepers communication is key for student success. I never really thought about how important communication was until it wasn't, by reading this chapter in Leadership Connectors it reminded me of the importance again. Its not just what is said but it is the written, verbal as well as nonverbal communication that speak volumes to a staff and student body. Non verbal communication I feel is about as important as verbal. If a principal is trying to get a message across to his/her staff and she sounds excited yet her body language is saying other wise; staff will pick up on it.
Being able to write well is very important but if you write well and can not spell the message can be lost. Instead of talking about what the e-mail/newsletter said those who read it will be more focused on the spelling errors and may miss the entire message.
When problems arise at a school site it will be important to frame the issue properly to staff. Depending on how it is framed the "problem" will hopefully be seen as a challenge or opportunity for some. Being able to reframe is also key to problem solving instead on focusing on what did not work the focus can be on building on what did or is working. Its all about perception and keeping the vision and purpose alive.
Lastly in reading the section on consensus building I found it interesting that the author added in "sometimes administrators appear to engage in consensus building...knowing they are going to do what they want to do anyways." I have felt that way in a staff meeting before and it was not a good feeling it made me mad that we were wasting time by our leaders pretending to give us a voice when they already had their mind made up. I know I was not the only one who felt that way about it either. I feel an administrator at a school needs to be a little transparent and open and honest with staff that will go over much better than pretending to care because the teachers will see right through it.
Communication if used properly is a large tool fostering success at many levels at a school site. If there is poor communication the cracks will slowly start to show and there will be more problems to come in the future.
Great points Megan! You are so right when you say that the importance of communication can be forgotten until it is not there. I also agree that when an email/letter/newletter has many misspelled words, etc. the message gets lost. The reader then does not focus on the message but rather, focuses on if the source is reliable.
ReplyDeleteMegan, I totally agree with your statement about how disingenuous consensus building does more harm than good. I too have been in the position where I felt that my time could have been better spent on something that I had a genuine say in rather than going through the motions of letting everyone have their say on a course of action that has already been predetermined. I try to be very mindful of this a leader. Honesty is the best policy, even if it is not necessarily the news that everyone wants to hear. How that news is framed, however, can make a big difference...when the road gets rocky, do you choose to view the rocks as stepping stones or boulders blocking your way? Lori :)
ReplyDeleteSeptember 11, 2011 11:02 PM
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post 100%! Communication is critical at all levels of school operations. It should be used to build relationships within organizations and not break them apart. People tend to focus on the negative when communication is not there. A lack of trust will develop when communication is weak. Similar to you and Lori, I have also experienced a situation where a leader was wanting teacher input when in actuality the decision had already been made. This frustrates people and may even lead them to not share their ideas next time. This kind of environment will not foster the collective problem-solving that is so depserately needed in schools.
~ Linda