Here are several tips for improving communications with your superintendent.
- Build the relationship on trust, honesty, respect, and cooperation. These elements should be the foundation for every communication.
- Establish a communications plan. Get clear on which methods of communication are appropriate for each type of situation. This varies between districts, but, decide together when an email is sufficient and when a phone call is necessary. This way, you will both have a sense of when a matter is urgent and when it is part of an ongoing discussion.
- Understand the other person’s job. SBO and superintendent collective responsibilities occur in a space where the fields of education and finance overlap, but your roles also include areas with which you may be unfamiliar. Invite your superintendent to sit in on a meeting on purchasing requirements or food services, and request to attend some of their meetings regarding new curriculum programs. Develop an open policy for asking questions about terms, concepts, or initiatives.
- Be clear and concise. Avoid communication overload. Express what you need to convey and include your honest opinion about the topic. Too much information can be as bad as too little.
- Listen. Model respect by listening and the superintendent will do the same.
For the success of the district, the SBO and superintendent should act as each other’s sounding boards, devil’s advocates, voices of reason, and collaborators. Motivate and challenge each other to generate momentum for the tasks ahead. Apprise each other of potential problems but don’t exaggerate the magnitude of issues. Be flexible and support each other.
If conflicts do arise, follow these principles to navigate:
- Separate the people from the problem. Make sure any negotiation includes a desire to maintain the relationship, but don’t let the relationship influence the substance of the problem.
- Focus on interests, not positions. Rather than taking issue with the position, ask questions about the interests behind it. Are you unaware of something? See if there is a way to compromise or find an alternate solution.
- Look at a variety of possibilities. Before deciding what to do, look for situations that will benefit both sides.
- Use objective standards to come to a final decision. When negotiating, keep in mind specific factors like market value, legalities, ethical and moral standards, equitability, professional standards, efficiency, sustainability, and reciprocity.