Transcript The First 100 Days: Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

The First 100 Days:
Communicate, Communicate,
Communicate
Susie Meade
Winterset Community Schools
Jarrett Peterson
Ankeny Community Schools
Communication is More Than
Talking
 Listening
 Non-verbal
 Emotional Awareness
 Stress Management
 Mindset -----transparency and customer
service
Total Misunderstanding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOd1jIDCeN8
Good Communication Is
 Frequent
 Recurring
 Targeted to specific audiences
 Multi-channels (can be the same
message)
Get to Know the Culture of
Communication in Your
District
 How are they already communicating?
 What are the expectations? Board, Internal,
External
 What is missing?
 What can be built and sustained in a
reasonable amount of time?
Develop an Entry Plan
Heavy on
Communication

Communicating with the Board
of Education
 Communicate to their preferences
 Communicate consistently
 Err on over communication
 Provide processing time
 The Friday Update – Vision Areas
Friday Update Template
Communicating with the
Administrative Team
 Regular meetings (group and 1:1)
 Keep them informed – include in the Friday
Update
 Involve them in the development of processes
 Be accessible 24/7
 Let them do their job and offer help often
Communicating with the Staff

Get to know them (associations first, all second)

Be visible in buildings and district events

Face to face most effective

Email updates every couple of weeks

Roundtable opportunities

Praise and recognize people (be specific, aligned to goals)

Don’t forget the support staff
Communicating With and
Being Involved in the
Community
 Traditional modes – newsletters, annual reports, press
releases
 Social media – dynamic website a must, Facebook, Twitter
 Try new ways – electronic backpack, weekly e-mails
 Emergency communication system
 Get to know the media and develop a positive relationship
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
Know How to Spell!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8nqi-RrfX0
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
 Don’t assume people know
 Communicating once won’t do it
(7 Times 7 Ways Rule)
 Multiple generations to hit – think
about the different modes of
communication each use
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
 Develop a plan and dedicate resources
 Determine what do you want people to
know and do
 Answer who, what, where, when, why
and what’s in it for me
 Target the 60 (20-60-20)
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
 Communication is a lot like teaching
 Old way – I teach, You learn
 New way – Needs to be explicit --I do,
We do, You do together, You do alone
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
 Writing will most likely be the first
impression people get of you
 6th grade level–now 3rd grade level (!)
 Main point should be the first
sentence or paragraph
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
 Limit “educationese”
 Assessment
 Cohort
 Differentiation
 Kiddo
Key Things to Remember
About Communication
 Avoid alphabet soup
 SIAC, PTO, PBIS, BOE, SAI, AEA,
ACT, ESL, TQ & TL -- OMG!
Sometimes It’s Not What But
How You Say It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uquRRrJh-L0
Lastly,
 Treat people as you would want to be treated
 Be honest, straightforward, and sincere
 Saying, “I’m not sure about that and I’ll get
back to you” is okay
 Lead by example
 Hire good people and give them the tools to
effectively communicate
Questions