What is a practice school leaders should avoid when communicating with stakeholders?

Becoming engaged in large-scale open forums can lead to challenges that school leaders should avoid. While open forums can offer valuable opportunities for dialogue and community engagement, they may also result in a lack of control over the conversation. In these settings, discussions can quickly become unfocused, emotional, or contentious, making it difficult for leaders to effectively manage the communication process.

Furthermore, large open forums can present logistical challenges, such as accommodating a diverse audience with varying levels of understanding and interest. This can dilute the messages being communicated, making it harder for stakeholders to grasp key points or for leaders to address concerns comprehensively.

In contrast, using commonly understood language fosters clarity, ensuring that messages resonate with a broad audience. Taking advantage of the political environment requires a nuanced approach to navigating relationships and leveraging context strategically, which can be advantageous in specific situations if done ethically. Communicating in response to sensitive situations demonstrates a leader's responsiveness and commitment to addressing important issues, which is critical for maintaining trust and transparency with stakeholders.