Description
Speak with clarity, confidence, and courage!
Many educators struggle with discussing difficult issues with colleagues. This insightful book helps readers effectively lead challenging conversations with supervisees, peers, and supervisors. Emphasizing initiative and preparation as keys to a successful conversation, the author’s step-by-step approach provides:
- Thought-provoking questions and first-person accounts that help build communications skills
- Advice on overcoming personal hesitation about expressing concerns
- Guidance on goal setting and choosing the best “what-where-and-when” for a productive discussion
- Sample scripts and other interactive tools to help educators prepare for the conversation and achieve positive outcomes
Table of Contents
Foreword by Arthur L. Costa
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. What Are Hard Conversations and Why Should We Have Them?
2. Why We Hesitate Having Hard Conversations
3. Questions to Ask Yourself Before Having the Hard Conversation
4. What’s the Real Problem?: Finding the Professional Language to Name It
5. Making a Plan
6. Scripting Your Initial Comments
7. The Whats, Wheres, and Whens of Having the Hard Conversation
8. What Ifs? Other Types of Hard Conversations
9. Conclusion
Appendix A. Extended List of Professional Behaviors
Appendix B. School Savvy Etiquette
Appendix C. Sample Scripts for Hard Conversations
References
Index
