If you want your team to hear and understand what you’re trying to communicate (and not roll their eyes), then avoid trite, dismissive, or insincere phrases such as “We’re a family.”

Corporate communication coach, Joel Schwartzberg, offers nine “say this, not that” tips that can help you flip the script for better team interactions. While this article was written for the business world, the basic principles apply to schools, too. As Schwartzberg points out, “Being direct makes a significant difference in your impact, especially when you’re communicating solutions and their intended effects.” And that’s a common goal of all highly-effective principals!