My son Cameron started high school this year. In our city, all public schools are currently doing virtual instruction only.
The transition from middle to high school is one that educators point to as being tricky under the best of circumstances. Many students are coming to a large school for the first time, they are changing classes every period, the responsibilities increase, and of course they’re making social transitions, as well.
Throw in a pandemic and virtual school, and you’ve got a recipe for a tough time.
I’ve been paying close attention to how different educators are handling this situation. Over the summer, Ignite held a workshop specifically for teachers (in partnership with JB Media.) I was blown away by the passion the teachers feel for their work, and for the ingenuity they were bringing to their virtual and hybrid-learning situations. They shared ideas with each other in the chat, commiserated about the situation, and yearned for anything, anything at all, that would help them connect with their students.
Then school started and I got to start really seeing what this virtual instruction was going to be like. Cameron has four teachers. One of them, Mr. Jones, is a veteran of the classroom. He is deeply invested in getting the students excited about his subject, and it shows in everything he does.
Because Mr. Jones’s deliberate intention is to engage every student, every day, he doesn’t leave anything to chance. His intention infuses everything from the way he sets up his classroom to his posture to his habits of communication with the students.
Here’s what I’ve learned from Mr. Jones that is applicable to all of us, no matter what field we’re in:
Repeat important information. Say it, email it, post it, email it again. Too many people treat communication like a test: “I said it once, why don’t they remember?” or “It’s in the email, if they would just read.” I know it can be irritating to feel like you’re repeating yourself, but remind yourself of what you want the outcome to be. Mr. Smith wants to make sure the students get the information, so he builds in repetition to the way he communicates with them.
Always include the link (again). Yes, it takes another ten seconds to include the reference, resource, or link in your email or text. And you may have already sent it once. But you know and I know that even if you Zoom with your team every Tuesday at the same time, this week someone will be in the car and need to access the link from their phone instead of their laptop. Just send it every time. Cover all the bases. This goes for the document you’re discussing, the article you want feedback on, whatever. Attach it. Do the work for your communication partner.
Cut down on the possibility of miscommunication. Include the day, the date, the time, the time zone, and a way to reach you if they need to reschedule or tell you they’re running late. Don’t rely on your Outlook, your assistant, or your scheduling software—double-check.
Remember that communication is a two-way street. You’re not done once you hit “send.” You’re done once the outcome you’re looking for (a response, a decision, an appointment) is achieved.
Be kind. Early in the school year, Cameron missed a class. Mr. Jones emailed Cameron, called me, and called Cameron. When Cameron reached him, apologetic, Mr. Jones assured him that it was fine, and he understood. He told exactly where he could find the recording of the day’s class, promised all this online school stuff would get easier, and left Cameron feeling uplifted rather than chastised.
Imagine if we all thought about doing the work for our communication partner. What if we all asked ourselves, “What can I do to make this easier for them? How can I be more clear? How can I think of this text/email/call/Zoom as a partnership in which we’re creating understanding together?”
How might this idea show up in your work? What difference could it make with your family, friends, and colleagues?
