Communication is the cornerstone of our profession. It determines the success or lack thereof in many situations. A school thrives when communication is clear, direct and accurate. Expectations must be clearly conveyed to all parties involved so that everyone can be held accountable for their professional success. Now in order to be an effective communicator one of our most important jobs is to listen. It is remarkable what you can find out and in turn achieve by simply listening to the voices of others. I have found myself in this situation on more than one occasion. People want and deserve to feel valued and appreciated. It is simple to achieve this by simply listening. Their feedback will guide future actions leaders take in a variety of ways. I found the part about ‘gathering in the parking lot’ interesting. You really can read a lot about a group discussion by observing the body language of those involved. I feel like this is something we do without realizing it. We convey messages without even speaking. In my opinion future leaders should be exceptionally careful about the messages that non-verbal communication sends. Maintaining positive, affirming, and welcoming body language would be helpful in developing success. Other important notables in effective communication include editing written communication, having a good sense of humor to deescalate tense situations, and ‘framing’ communication to breed hope instead of anxiety. Having staff members aid in big decision making by consensus would be a good way to give everyone opportunities to feel valued and appreciated. It is OUR school that we strive to make better on a daily basis. As leaders our communication efforts are put under a microscope and judged by others. If we can maintain effective communication, then our school family will be happier and in turn more efficient. The case studies at the end of the chapter were helpful by painting the picture of a good communication model and a struggling one.
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