Transferring my two-year-old son to a more suitable preschool was not just a challenge for him, but also a learning experience for me in communication and project management.

During this transition, I identified key issues with the previous school’s communication:

1. My inquiries often met with prolonged waits and required multiple follow-ups for any response.

2. The school’s use of diverse communication channels, managed by different teachers, led to redundant and inconsistent information regarding the same events.

These insights have been instrumental in refining my approach to client communication and project management in UX design.

1. Frequent Communication with New Clients
Establishing trust and understanding of each other’s workflow and product expectations is vital. If I can’t immediately answer a client’s query, I let them know when they can expect a response, avoiding any unnecessary waiting.

2. Consistent Points of Contact

Confusion arises when clients receive mixed messages from multiple sources. My son’s new school had a streamlined approach — the director initially, followed by his class teacher, handled all communications. Similarly, I need to ensure my clients know who their primary contact person is for their projects.

3. Responsible Responses
It’s better to take time to research and provide well-informed answers than to hastily give inappropriate solutions. Overpromising without assessing feasibility can lead to credibility issues.

4. Establishing Clear Communication Protocols
Differentiating between urgent (phone calls) and non-urgent (emails) matters helps maintain an organized flow of information.

5. Prompt and Calm Resolution of Issues
One day at my son’s new school, the class teacher forgot to put his cold medicine in his backpack to take home. I can understand that the teacher being very busy, might have forgotten by accident, and I didn’t consider it a serious matter. However, the next morning, upon discovering this, the principal immediately called me to apologize. She informed me that they had discussed a solution to this issue and explained how we could collaborate to prevent such incidents in the future. Their proactive, rational, and gentle approach to communication was a great learning experience for me.

6. Purpose-Driven Meetings
Every meeting should have a clear agenda aimed at progressing the project. Every time my child’s teacher called me, it was evident that she had thoughtfully considered the key points she needed to discuss with me. As a result, our phone conversations were brief, yet informative. Within just ten minutes, I could understand my child’s situation at school and gain insights into how I could enhance his interactions at home to support the teachers’ educational efforts.

These insights, while not entirely new, were deeply reinforced by my son’s school transfer process. I’m now even more committed to applying these effective communication strategies in my upcoming design projects for smoother and more successful outcomes.