The increased demand on educational administrators to share power with parents, community groups, teachers, and school staff emphasizes the need for more participative decision-making and for improved communications with school groups and the outside public. Participative decision-making through groups or councils requires clear, unambiguous arrangements, support from the chief administrator, and a commitment to real power-sharing. The author provides guidelines for effective group procedures, for meeting group members' needs for inclusion, control, and affection, and for deciding the principal's role in the group. Communicating effectively with teachers and school staff requires that administrators understand the communication process, remain accessible, and develop skills in paraphrasing, describing behaviors and feelings, checking perceptions, and requesting feedback. A short selection of exercises for improving communication skills is included. For effective communication with the public, administrators need to develop public relations strategies that include personal contact, both formal and informal, with parents and with opinion leaders and other key communicators. Advisory groups and public surveys are among suggested methods for improved communication. Administrators also need good media relations to facilitate communication with many people in a short time. (Author/RW)