It’s easy, and perhaps common, to think communication is about getting a point across. But the people who communicate well, who lift others, who build trust, who create momentum, understand something deeper. Communication is about trusting, engaging and connecting in a way that gives energy to others.
Once a human being has arrived on this earth,
communication is the largest single factor
determining what kinds of relationships
she or he makes with others and
what happens to each in the world.
— Virginia Satir
Watch "Supercharging the Network" on the Educators Among Us Podcast
Who do you think of as greater communicators? Often famous speakers like Winston Churchill, Billy Graham, or Martin Luther King, Jr. come to mind. Communication, though, is a so much more that speaking, writing, or posting.
Expertly expressing what we know or believe is a valued skill for educators, but communication is actually getting through in a way that deepens connection.
We are part of a vital network of relationships that feeds us and that we feed.
To communicate, put your thoughts in order;
give them a purpose; use them to
persuade, to instruct, to discover.
— William Safire
Communication grows community with greater trust, energy, and engagement.
Trust helps our people feel safe to collaborate, share ideas, and resolve conflict.
The most energizing gift we can give others is the fullness of our attention, and then follow up later on the key points to demonstrate they remain on our mind.
Engaged educators don't just show up—they stand out because of their focused commitment that is motivated and emotionally invested to deliver their best.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs.
— Ephesians 4:29
To communicate is the heart of our calling to educate. It's how we get'er done.
We're careful to listen completely to hear what isn't being said but needs to be included in our instructional plans, our meeting agenda, or future dialogues.
We use the full scope of our intelligence and spirit as a reliable and renewable source of energy to build others up when and where they need it the most.
Because communication is far more than hitting send—it's being a real friend.
Be a supercharger in your network. Bringing the energy everyday to grow trust and engagement.
Listen to "Supercharging the Network" on the Educators Among Us Podcast
