Do you hate having difficult conversations?
I do.
I’m Phil McMillan from Heads Up (aka Mr Sonia Gill!). Back when I was a team manager nothing filled me with more dread than having to tackle a member of my team about their performance or behaviour.
Two weeks in to the new term and I’d imagine the chances are that you have had to have at least one difficult conversation already – or are putting it off!
Do you need to talk to that teacher who isn’t marking properly? Or to the member of your SLT who thinks it’s OK to turn up 5 minutes late to every meeting?
You know you have to talk to them – maybe for the nth time!
I hate it, but I’ve learnt something:
Having a successful difficult conversation is actually a golden opportunity.
It’s your chance to get things the way you want them to be, to get your team and your school functioning at a higher level.
How have I come around to this way of thinking? Being married to Sonia Gill, founder of Heads Up, may have had something to do with it!
Sonia’s passion for helping leadership teams develop their skills has rubbed off on me. We’ve been married for a year now, and there haven’t been many evenings where over dinner Sonia has been asking what I think about her latest ideas for helping schools.
So rather than just telling her what I think, I’ve decided to help her out.
But to help her help you, I need your help! So I have a quick question for you:
What is the one thing that would make having those difficult conversations easier for you?
More time in your day? Having more confidence? Knowing how to frame the conversation? How to end it? Knowing how to respond to emotions better? Or is it something else?
Send me an e-mail and let me know. I’d really appreciate it and we’ll do our best to help you!
Have a great week and try not to put off those difficult conversations!
Best wishes,
Phil
