Communication, Communication, Communication!

In real estate, there are three words that really matter...location, location, location! In school leadership, the three important words are communication, communication and COMMUNICATION!

Here are some Communication maxims that highlight some of the rules of the game:

• People techniques (relationships) beat paper just about every time.
• Healthy, respected relationships are critical to communication.
• Perception is reality. (The objective is to make them the same.)
• First graders like surprises; your superintendent doesn't.
• An invitation to everyone is an invitation to no one.
• The best way to eat crow is fast.
• People support what they help create.
• It is more important to reach the people who count than to count the people you reach.
• If you believe your comments are being taken out of context, maybe you are failing to provide one.
• If behavior gets us into trouble, words are not going to get us out of it.
• You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can never fool the kids.
• When you create a communication void, your critics will surely fill it and flaunt it.
• Rumors spread like a prairie fire and they have an annoying capacity to be seen as credible when bona-fide leadership communication is missing. Don't create those voids.

Principals are the main creators of a culture of communication in their schools. Good, two-way communication becomes the standard when principals serve as role models, provide resources and training, and hold staff members accountable for their communication efforts and results.

- Excerpt from NSPRA's Making Parent Communication Effective and Easy

http://www.nspra.org/principals

Are there any that should be added? What are your thoughts?