Have you recently taken on a new superintendency role? Or are thinking about finding your next opportunity? Here are four tips for communicating well with your various stakeholders in your first year.
- Get to know your audience. Before you really begin communicating, take some time to understand the wants and needs of your stakeholders. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one meetings.
- Use clear, concise messaging. According to the treetop therapy, the average attention span of someone today is 8.25 seconds. And, The Literacy Project has found that the average American reads at a seventh to eighth grade level. So, what can you do to connect? Use clear messaging and simple language. As you write, think about the length of your sentences and paragraphs, and incorporate bullets when possible. Also, video, infographics and photos are key to grabbing your stakeholders attention, so think about how you can use these in your communications.
- Use multiple channels. Studies have shown that people need to see a message seven times before they remember it. While it may seem repetitive to share the same news in an email, newsletter, on social media, your website, and as an op-ed, not everyone gets their information from the same source. The greater the frequency someone sees information, the more likely they are to retain it.
- Be consistent. Create a few common talking points for whatever message you’re sharing, and stick to them throughout the communication process, whether you’re talking in-person to stakeholders or sharing through a printed piece. When it comes to core themes, it helps to create your own catch phrase or utilize alliteration or rhyming to help your audience remember and repeat important information.
Do you need help putting these into practice? Allerton Hill Communications is here to help! Learn more, or contact us today by visiting allerton-hill.com.
