One comment from my principal changed how I handle parent emails completely

After 4 years of teaching, my principal pulled me aside last February and told me my email replies sounded 'like a robot trying to apologize.' She showed me how I was using the same template over and over and it was making parents angry. Now I actually write each reply from scratch and mention something specific about their kid first. Has anyone else had a boss point out a blind spot in how you communicate that totally shifted things for you?

2 comments

2 Comments

violafox6d ago

Did you actually get better responses from parents after that?

noahpark6d agoOG Member

Man, it's wild how often we overthink these things. Honestly yeah, the honest, kinda messy approach worked way better than I expected. It's like people are so used to polished, perfect communication from everyone that when you actually show a little vulnerability or uncertainty, they lean in. Parents especially I think are tired of being talked down to by experts or other parents who pretend they have it all figured out. Once I stopped trying to sound like I had all the answers, conversations got a lot more real and productive. It's kinda sad that being genuine is such a rare thing now, but it also makes it easier to stand out without trying so hard.