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Anzar High School Communication Guidelines

After several years of democratic leadership, teachers at Anzar High School collaboratively developed these communication guidelines. Several years later, they still use the guidelines actively and rely on them for establishing norms and creating conditions conducive to hard decision-making. Staff members receive a copy of these guidelines at each weekly staff meeting; at the meeting’s end, they rate the group and themselves, evaluating how well their communication met these standards.

Group Guidelines

We are all part of the same team; we collectively own problems, and we collectively solve them.

We discuss personal relationships in private only with those involved taking part in the conversation.

We create space for all ideas.

We help and support others.

We try to "keep it light" and use humor when appropriate.

We are polite to each other and use statements like "please" and "thank you."

We allow conflict and differing ideas to exist, and we recognize that tension may be normal.

We work on balancing cool feedback with warm feedback.

We focus on solutions, not blame.

We do not call people names.

We have no side conversations during meetings.

We always give feedback that is supported by data.

Individual Guidelines

I commit to practice these guidelines.

I listen to the message and not the messenger.

I may use my colleagues to help practice these Communication Guidelines.

I check out my assumptions, and I am not afraid to ask questions.

I talk directly to any person with whom I have an issue in a timely manner.

I am accountable for speaking my own ideas.

I ask for what I need.

I am personally accountable.

I am honest.

I foster a willingness to forgive, to learn and to move on.

This resource last updated: December 13, 2002

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