I Love a Good Audit!

I love a good audit!

What I find myself reading more often than not are trade magazines and articles that help me be a more effective executive or manager.  However, there is nothing like a good audit to let you know what you have been missing.

The audit I’m talking about is a communication audit. I’m not talking about the one that a consultant comes in and does for your company’s internal or external communication or marketing message – I’m talking about auditing what you discuss with your own children.

I find myself struggling at times to come up with much more than the same old tired questions, “How was school today?” or “What did Mr. or Mrs. So-n-so say about your homework?” Then, much to my chagrin, I get the same answer every time I ask. This is not my children’s fault, but mine for not meeting them where they are.

There is a simple way to connect with our kids in a way that is not centered on the disaster zone in their room or the homework to be done. When is the last time you have read Frankenstein, Flat Stanley or Dinosaur Roar for that matter? We all have access to the material our children are reading in class. Don’t you think that you would get a more stimulating answer if you asked something like, “I was reading insert book title here and I missed how Suzan knew that Charles was lost at sea – how did she know that?” You may find that if they don’t know the answer they may want to find it for you, or you could offer to find it together.

You will have to fight the urge to turn it into a lesson if you don’t like the answer. Remember, children will accept a certain type of teaching from a parent and a certain type of teaching from a teacher. Our goal is to connect and have conversations that, if we are lucky, will make memories that we can share forever. 

So, like any good accountant would tell you, audits may not be fun, but they are necessary. If you’re not satisfied with your child’s answers to your not-so-poignant questions, maybe it’s time for an audit.