Here’s how to do better…

Effective Communication for Teacher Satisfaction

This year, we read First, Break All the Rules on how to attract, focus, and keep the most talented employees.

Sound like an important objective — attract, focus, and retain the highest calibre teachers and team members?

I know. It’s on everyone’s mind.

The book outlines 12 elements necessary to achieve that objective based on research from 100 million questions from employees. That’s a TON of data!

12 Elements for Employee Satisfaction from the Research

1. I know what is expected of me at work.
2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right.
3. At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best everyday.
4. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.
5. My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.
6. There is someone at work who encourages my development.
7. At work, my opinions seem to count.
8. The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important.
9. My associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work.
10. I have a best friend at work.
11. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.
12. This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow.

Application Week

Interspersed throughout our BLBS Mastermind book discussion calendar are what we affectionately refer to as ‘Application Weeks.’ These weeks are opportunities for us to digest and apply the best ideas, research, and principles from our professional reading into our leadership practice.

I want to apply these 12 elements to deepen your summer communication to your teachers.

Definitely, ChatGPT should NOT write this communication.

Instead, let’s create a powerful executive summary by addressing this handful of big ideas.

Guiding questions to help you cover all of the bases…

What are your themes, big objectives, or essential goals for the upcoming school year? How do you feel about them? What do you believe about how your team is ready and how you will impact students?

What questions are you holding? How are you inviting their feedback forward on what matters most? When will your next team brainstorming meeting be?

What does the fall launch schedule look like? Where and when do teachers have to report for duty? What’s happening in the building and with teaching materials and supplies over the summer? What are the key deadlines or events through the first 4-6 weeks of school?

What is the high-level communication plan with teachers? When are you planning to meet with them 1:1, evaluate them, or be in their classrooms? What do the meeting schedules look like? When will more details be available?

How will teachers be supported, grow through professional development, find inspiration and accountability with their teams, and have fun together? Write what you know for sure.

Include a handwritten note or personalized paragraph for each teacher about why you value them.

Can you see the alignment to the above needs?

Of note…

I realize this makes for a ‘meaty’ communication. Yet, I know it will be effective if you have this chock-full of great information. Additionally, remember 7X, 7 different ways. You’ll have to post this information, send it out in your messaging system, and make it bite-sized a few different ways. But, this executive briefing should empower your team to execute effectively on your behalf.

One other note, timing is everything. You know when you need to deliver this information. Make sure you have as much information as possible and try not to ruin a beach day or family vacation in the heart of summer with school stress. In other words, aim for the time when people are gearing back up and ready to start preparing.

Your clear communication is kindness.

You are ready to unlock the extraordinary potential of your team!

For the sake of the children,

Karine