The communication experiences of education managers: identifying strengths, weaknesses and critical incidents

Education managers from various education settings were asked to record the three most typical work-related incidents of communication within a specified time-frame. They were also asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of communication practices at work. The resultant data provide insight into the existing communication climate within education organisations, and the problems which need to be overcome. Specifically, the main findings were of persistent communication problems between managers and staff, the organisation of meetings, the transmission of information and the use of appropriate communication channels. The data suggest that there is a need for improved communication to facilitate the more effective management of education organisations, and to improve relationships between education managers and their staff. Greater communication skills training for managers is therefore recommended. This paper also considers areas where further research is indicated.