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Category: Improve Your Difficult Conversations

Why is talking about behaviour so hard? (And how to fix it)

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

The most dreaded conversation – and the powerful lesson it teaches

What’s the one difficult conversation people fear the most? The one no one wants to have? Telling someone they smell.

97% Of Schools Have These Annoying People Problems, Do You?

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.

Why 65% of difficult conversations fail—and how to fix them

65% of difficult conversations don’t get fixed. The problem comes back. Again and again. Does that sound familiar? It doesn’t have to be this way. I promised. Yes, promise! I’ve seen it.

What To Do When You Suspect Sickness Isn’t Real

It’s a time of year when sickness can increase. We all get ill. Some more than others, but illness is part of life. And most of the time, it is what it is. People are honest about it. They need time to rest. And you suspect nothing other than honesty. But what about when you don’t? When you have that niggle that they aren’t really ill?

Are you one of the 75% of schools who have this issue?

75% of school leaders say they have a ‘difficult person’ in their team (aka the person you struggle to place when planning classes for next year). That makes a hard job (placing people in year groups) even harder. You might find yourself thinking ‘who’s turn is it?’. It’s not great for you, them, your team […]

This is what 70% of school leaders avoid talking about with their team…

In my Outstanding School Test, I ask the question: Do you talk to your team about their conduct as much as you do their performance? 70% say no. So on the plus side, maybe there is no need to talk about their conduct. On the other hand, maybe we’re not talking about conduct very much at all.

84% of school leaders report this issue

Many school leaders have been asked, in The Outstanding School test: Is anyone in your team not performing their job as well as they need to? 84% say yes. 84%! And given that people are the key to your school’s success and happiness that’s a big number! But with challenging recruitment […]

A great way to improve your difficult conversations with parents

I know a lot of you are having difficult conversations with parents. And there seem to be more of these conversations. And they seem to be harder. Do you have a parent who keeps coming in for a range of issues? A tip many find useful is to arrange a regular meeting with […]

Was my difficult conversations top tip helpful on Wednesday?

On Wednesday you should have received my top tip about one difficult conversation that keeps coming up: caretakers. Did you get it? Did you like it?Do you want more? Remember, if you’d like to keep getting these top tips to help you have more successful difficult conversations then please subscribe here: Why? […]

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