Communication gets the credit. Or should I say, blame? Yep, communication is the one always taking the blame, but in this case, it’s an unchecked assumption.
Unchecked assumptions create conflicts where no conflict exists. Assumptions create tensions, and those tensions create bottlenecks where communication can not flow effectively.
If the school culture is the engine of a school. Communication is the piping and hosing through which the oil runs. Without oil, the engine breaks.
But unchecked assumptions, those are the bottlenecks.
For example,
- Bob doesn’t want to be a part of the leadership team. He’s focused on retirement.
- Jalissa can’t teach U.S. History. She doesn’t even do well at World Geography.
- The PTA president won’t fund this project, she doesn’t even raise money for parent night.
These are assumptions. But the realities could be entirely different:
- Bob would love to energize his last year before teaching with a new challenge.
- Jalissa has a passion for U.S. History, but is uncomfortable with World Geography.
- The PTA president would love this project, but she didn’t know you held expectations for parent night.
Communication is not to blame. It’s the bottleneck that stopped the communication that is to blame.