He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.

What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge. It is communication.

Module Objectives:

• Critically analyse and evaluate your own communication style and its impact on various stakeholder groups within the school and wider community.
• Strategically apply advanced communication techniques to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and foster shared understanding amongst diverse teams.
• Develop and implement proactive strategies to cultivate and maintain high levels of relational trust with staff, students, whānau, and external partners, even amidst challenging circumstances.
• Articulate the nuanced relationship between relational trust, effective communication, and their role in leading school-wide initiatives and fostering a positive school culture.
• Evaluate and apply relevant leadership frameworks and research to inform their approach to communication and trust-building within a leadership context.

As Deputy and Associate Principals, you are pivotal in shaping the relational landscape of your kura. This module challenges you to consider communication and trust through a strategic leadership lens.

Deepening Understanding of Communication Styles:

For Deputy Principals, a nuanced understanding of communication involves:

• Contextual Agility: Recognising how different contexts necessitate adaptable communication approaches, considering power dynamics and potential sensitivities.
• Strategic Messaging: Crafting clear, consistent, and compelling messages aligned with the school’s vision and values.
• Active Listening and Inquiry: Employing sophisticated listening techniques to understand perspectives and facilitate constructive dialogue.
• Non-Verbal Communication and Presence: Cultivating a leadership presence that conveys confidence, empathy, and approachability.
• Conflict Navigation through Communication: Utilising advanced communication skills to mediate conflict and guide teams towards resolution.

Resources:

• MindTools – offers numerous articles and tools on communication skills. Explore what is useful for you, from effective written communication to listening skills and everything in between!: https://www.mindtools.com/c_CommunicationSkills.htm
• TED Talk: Julian Treasure – “How to speak so that people want to listen”: https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_how_to_speak_so_that_people_want_to_listen
• Article: “Four Ways to Communicate with More Empathy” – Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2022/08/4-ways-to-communicate-with-more-empathy 

Elevating Relational Trust in Leadership:

For Deputy Principals, building relational trust involves establishing a school-wide culture of trust through:

• Leading with Transparency and Integrity: Demonstrating consistent ethical behaviour and fostering open communication.
• Empowering and Distributing Leadership: Trusting staff with autonomy and fostering shared ownership.
• Strategic Vulnerability: Demonstrating appropriate vulnerability to encourage shared learning and support.
• Navigating Difficult Conversations with Empathy and Courage: Addressing challenging issues directly and with empathy.
• Building Trust with Diverse Communities: Adapting communication and engagement strategies to build meaningful partnerships.
• Accountability and Follow-Through: Consistently following through on commitments.
• Systemic Approaches to Trust Building: Implementing school-wide initiatives that promote trust.

Resources: 

• Article: “The Trust Factor” – Educational Leadership (ASCD): https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-trust-factor 
• Video: Brené Brown – “The power of vulnerability” (TED Talk) – while not education-specific, offers valuable insights into building trust through vulnerability: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

Task:

Reflecting on Communication and Trust in Practice:

Consider a recent situation where effective communication significantly contributed to building or maintaining relational trust within your school, or conversely, where a communication challenge impacted trust.

Discuss with your learning partner the key communication strategies employed (or not employed) and their impact on the level of trust. Post a summary of your discussion and key insights on the forum (150 words maximum).

Assessment:

• Completion of all readings.
• Participation in the online forum discussion.
• Conversation with learning partner and subsequent post on forum