Effective communication is the key to establishing and maintaining successful relationships. In a school setting, there are a variety of unique relationships, each with their own individual and collective needs. Understanding and meeting the needs of families, staff, and students requires clear and consistent verbal and non-verbal communication from school leaders.
In order to communicate effectively, school leaders must establish trust, transparency, and listening. Trust is earned through daily interactions where individuals show that they are listening and that they care. Each interaction makes a deposit in someone’s emotional bank account which accrues interest over time. Transparency facilitates trust as it reveals the organization’s purpose, goals, and values which help families, staff, and students feel aligned.
Communicating Effectively with Students
Perhaps the most important relationship in a school setting is that which is developed with students. Students need to feel acknowledged and supported. They need to know that the classroom is a safe place for them to be authentic and vulnerable. Anti-bias anti-racist (ABAR) education is vital for educators working towards creating these types of supportive learning communities as they provide a framework that permeates all interactions with children, families, and coworkers. Teachers will need to be given the tools and resources to provide honest feedback to students, empowering and encouraging them to reach their fullest potential. Active listening and keen observational skills will be necessary to identify when students may be receiving a message in a negative way and to identify signs that a student may have experienced trauma surrounding a particular subject. When leaders effectively communicate with staff, they are equipped with the tools necessary to engage in effective communication with students, creating a supportive, positive classroom culture.
Communicating Effectively with Staff
A team of staff members operates similarly to a classroom of students; there are many different individuals with varying personalities and perspectives that all need to find common ground in order to work towards a common goal.
The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.