Strategic Communications Vital In All Industries

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, I had the privilege of participating in Washoe County School District’s "Principal For A Day" program. I was assigned to Clayton Middle School and shadow its principal, Bruce Meissner. It just so happens that I am an alum of Clayton and consider myself to be a proud member of the Cub family. It is also worth noting that Principal Meissner was my science and geography teacher while I attended McQueen High School. Not that I need to repeat what has been said 15,372,292 times, but Reno is a small town.

Although the day was full of enlightening experiences that offered me insight into our public school system, it also was a reminder of the importance of being able to effectively and strategically communicate to a multitude of audiences. In the marketing industry, it is obviously important to know your audience and how best they want to be communicated with in order to achieve your marketing goals. This is no different from what a principal needs to do on a daily basis.

I was able to spend the day observing Principal Meissner masterfully communicate with teachers, WCSD staff, parents, and most difficult of all, 12 to 14 year-olds. It is no secret, especially to parents, that effectively communicating with each of these groups can be challenging… some more than others. However, it is those that are able to find the right balance in language selection, tone, demeanor and how the message is delivered that are able to succeed in an educational setting. However, this formula is not just limited to the education world. It is the recipe for strategic communications that makes many people successful in a number of industries.

My day as a principal was an experience that was enjoyable and eye opening. It was a reminder that what we do at KPS3 as strategic communicators truly is a skill that is not limited to our line of work. Being able to effectively communicate your message to multiple audiences will make or break you as a business or professional. Clayton Middle School is lucky to have such a great communicator leading the school.