Successful difficult conversations

Author: Sonia Gill

Almost half of school leaders say getting staff to consistently apply new ideas feels like herding cats.If you’re one of those leaders, you’re not alone. The challenge is real—but are the most common solutions really the ones that work? You might already be trying things like: Create Clear, Small Steps Engage Through Ownership Celebrate Wins […]

Exam season is here! For primaries, Year 6 SATs are around the corner.For secondaries, GCSEs and A-Levels are kicking off soon.And for infant schools—formal assessments may be optional now, but this time of year still brings plenty of big moments. It’s a lot. So here’s to you—the leaders, the teachers, the teams making it all […]

Around half of school leaders feel like their school is working hard but standing still. Half! So what’s going on?
Well-being. That word again. Everyone wants you to look after theirs. But who looks after yours? I know you try your best to support your team. But there’s one way I see that I think would benefit from a little tweak… Emails.
Take time to rest, recharge, and do something that brings you joy—you deserve it! Here are three ways to truly make the most of your break:
Why is talking about behaviour so hard? Behaviour conversations are tougher than performance ones. It’s easier to help someone improve their marking than to change their attitude​. If behaviour is the issue, here’s what can help
What’s the one difficult conversation people fear the most? The one no one wants to have? Telling someone they smell.
There are 5 common difficult conversations I see time and again in school. I asked 1,489 school leaders which of these difficult conversations they are having with their staff - only 3% had none of them.
Ok, that’s half way through the school year! It goes by fast doesn’t it? And soon you will be focused on next year. The chess board of who goes where will be out. You’ll try to please everyone and maybe you will, but if not that’s because it’s a tough task to do. So here’s a tool that can help you make those staffing moves for next year better.
In this new book, seven inspiring headteachers share how they transformed their schools - despite the odds. Their real-world insights offer practical, proven strategies that any school leader can learn from. And for today only (Monday 3rd March), you can get the Kindle edition for just 99p (RRP £16).