Let's Talk About It - The Art of Communication in Christian Education
Feb 12, 20243 min read
For Crossroads Christian School (CCS) to effectively delegate, change culture, and use restorative discipline there must be good communication.
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”-James Humes.
As the school administrator, I have four main groups of people that I communicate with in the CCS community. Each group requires a different level or amount of information to be communicated. Whether it is communicating to the school board, teachers and staff, parents, or students; there are several key components of effective communication. It is the single most important responsibility I have, as the leader of CCS. In sharing this with you, it is my desire that you not only have insight into how I strive to communicate, but that you might also be able to apply some of this to your own personal and professional lives.
One of those key components is to communicate as soon as I can, this helps to avoid misunderstandings, misinformation, and frustration. Making sure that I have the facts correct and give the information as clearly and concisely as possible.
I have found that whenever possible, communication is best directly and in person. The most useful information about CCS will be done face to face. Relying on media outlets to relay information is important but cannot replace the element of human relationship that makes communication effective.
As a school, we also seek to include our surrounding community with information about events and programs that we offer that could benefit them, though they are outside of our school family. This practice helps with marketing and bring growth opportunities, numerically and financially.
The best form of communication is word of mouth from excited staff members, families, or students. I love seeing you all share the positive information about what is going on within the school community, along with your personal investment in the success of our school.
Parental involvement is a vital part of our CCS community. You need to know how important your role is.
It is most helpful to us when communication is brief and to the point. We are overwhelmed by the amount of communication that we receive on any given day, as I'm sure you often are as well. A brief email with highlights and important information is wonderful.
You and I both know that effective communication does not just happen. Even the most seasoned and skilled person can always improve their communication skills. Listening is one of the best ways to improve and become an effective communicator. Learning to ask good questions, open-ended so that those we are communicating with must answer more than yes or no. Repeating what you just heard, paraphrasing, is helpful to avoid miscommunication. The tone of communication is vital in making sure that it is well received. Let's all keep our attitudes positive and respectful.
Go overboard in making sure that the other person understands the information that you are trying to communicate. The importance of communication cannot be overstated in the school setting, we should all seek to be understood in the most effective manner.
“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”- John C. Maxwell.
The way that people communicate influences the relationships that are built. At CCS, we desire to build strong two-way communication for effective and beneficial relationships.