The top two topics I’m asked to discuss most with Principals these days are student behaviour and parents. Then there’s daylight before any other topic.
So, let’s talk parent comms today.
The Principals I speak with mostly ask questions like:
What am I supposed to say?
When am I supposed to get their input?
What topics are my decision and none of their business?
I reckon there are three Cs when it comes to parent comms and they help answer these questions:
- CENTRAL: These are the topics at the core of your leadership and strategic direction. This is your approach to culture and to teaching/learning (and I honestly don’t care which slice of the reading war territory you’ve planted your flag in). You don’t need parents making these calls – they’re not qualified. When it’s CENTRAL, the leadership behaviour is to TELL.
- CONNECTED: These decisions and imperatives have significance, but your CENTRAL topics are imperious to them. They include panels to select new leadership team members, focus groups on key strategies, finance committees and the like. When the topic is CONNECTED, the leadership behaviour is to ASK.
- COMPLEMENTARY: These are actions that help with what’s CENTRAL or CONNECTED but are not of influence to their composition or priority. They include fundraising, camp location selection, canteen menus, car park safety. Frankly, the leadership behaviour for COMPLEMENTARY issues is to GET THE F&%$ OUT OF THE WAY.
I see too many Principals spending time on Complementary topics and not Central. I also see them taking on too much advice from well-meaning, ill-informed parents about what’s Central to their responsibilities.
Keep fighting that good fight,
P.S. Want to know more? Register here for my next online workshop, Winning Over Angry Parents on 19 August.
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