Organizational Communication

I came across Dr. Kenneth Trump’s recent article on “Selecting a School Safety Consultant.” I appreciate Dr. Trump’s candid and, at times, brutally honest voice of reason and common sense regarding school safety/emergency planning. 

I would like to take this opportunity to add value to Dr. Trump’s piece on “expert” school safety consultants. Before any external school safety consultant can effectively give advice, make recommendations, and/or guide discussions for lasting change that consultant must invest an adequate amount of quality time with the client to first learn and understand the following:

1.  The political makeup and dynamics of the client. 

2. The outside political dynamics that impact the client. 

3. The structure, culture, and sub-cultures of the client. 

4. How information flows inside and outside of the
    organization.

5. How information is shared and how decisions are
    made.

6. How does the organization learn and develop. 

7. What is the operational framework that the client is
    working within. 

8. What is the school safety/security expectation from
    teachers and staff.

9. What is the school safety/security expectation from
    the community. 

Certainly, there are other considerations that a consultant must first learn and every client is unique with different challenges. Schools are not looking for “off the shelf” safety plans, and a consultant’s only viable path to creating a customized safety program is to immerse themselves in the client’s workplace environment. By doing so, the change process can be properly introduced, facilitated, and managed to create a sensible and clear vision of the future state.