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GEDA 567 Effective Communication. Effective Communication in a Transparent World. Goals for Presentation. Educate you about the many communication challenges we face Create an understanding of the transparency movement and increasing accountability
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Effective Communication in a Transparent World
Goals for Presentation • Educate you about the many communication challenges we face • Create an understanding of the transparency movement and increasing accountability • Outline internal communication tips that will assist you moving forward • Outline external communication tips that will assist you when dealing with the news media
Who do you communicate with during the course of your work day? What do you communicate?
Now think about how you receive communication during the course of your day
What is changing in education? • Greater accountability • Transparency movement • Media hype • Changing public perceptions about education
Greater Accountability • Demand for improved test scores • Leaner budgets • Doing more with less
What is Transparency in Education? • Allowing the public to have complete access inside your school/district • Opening yourselves up to the scrutiny of the general public/tax payers
Media Scrutiny • School spending • Drop-out rates • Test scores • Weapons found • in school • Sexual predators • Bomb threats • Background checks on staff (teachers, custodians, bus drivers, etc.) • School access • Teacher contracts/ union activity
Changing public perceptions about education
How do you achieve Effective Communication in a changing, more complex world?
Message Message Channel Info source Transmitter Receiver Destination Noise Source How busy you are determines how the message will be received How you communicate determines how the message will be delivered
Effective Communication Before you create the message: • What are you trying to achieve? • What are your goals? • What is your communication strategy?
Effective Communication Who are you communicating with? • How wide is the gap between what you know and what they know?
Effective Communication What is the best way to deliver the message? • Email • Letter • Face to face in a meeting • Text message
Effective Communication How do you know if your message is reaching your audience? How do you know that they are fully understanding what you are communicating?
Effective Communication Follow-up with your communication • Face-to-face rounding • Ask for a response from the recipient • Surveys
Communication problems that can lead to a breakdown in the process: • Failing to understand a particular point of view • Delivering information poorly
Methods of Communication Verbal • Opportunity to ask questions • Opportunity to seek clarification • Two-way Written • Minimizes any ambiguities • Can be saved for future reference To be successful you need a combination of both!
Challenges Verbal and Written • Is the information understood by the receiver? • Did you reach the right person? • Did the receiver follow-through if the communication required an action?
Communication Methods Written • Intranet • Memo • Newsletter • Summary sheets • Communication boards Verbal • Team meetings • Group meetings • One-on-one meetings • Voice mail box – listen only
Helpful Communication Tips • Communicate assertively without seeming pushy • Finesse touchy situations with tact and diplomacy • Listen!!! • Persuade others to your way of thinking and gain their cooperation • Be prepared to reach a compromise • Communicate with greater authority and credibility
Helpful Communication Tips • Always maintain composure with difficult people • Speak up confidently if you do not agree • Get to the point in all written communication • Follow-Up, follow-up, follow-up!
External Audiences Students/Parents/Community Leaders • Open lines of communication • Be factual and sincerely concerned • Ease their situation by addressing logistical/other needs
Internal Audiences Employees & School Board • To extent incident know, talked about, consider holding meetings to brief employees/associates on status • As statements given to media, share with employees/associates • In a crisis, forward all media calls to designated person
The Public’s Concerns? Don’t lose sight of public's concern • Credibility is your greatest asset • Guard your reputation • Underscore commitment to doing the right thing in all procedures, policies & practices
Newsroom Culture • Fast paced • Constant deadlines • Quick decisions with limited information • Competitive – want to be #1! • Hard news will always be first • Accuracy matters • Becoming more transparent • Decisions are made by a small group of people
Communication Strategy Two choices • Abdicate story and let critics tell it • Engage media in hope of creating balance and perspective Don’t assume that truth will triumph without you