Course Overview

Crucial to any leadership role is managing people. It’s not sufficient to have a good grasp of strategy, a stunning vison for
your school, a tip-top curriculum and so on unless you can win the hearts and minds of your pupils, staff, parents and
governors. There are some that are resistant to change, others who simply need a little cajoling or encouragement and
there are those whose performance, for whatever reason, isn’t up to scratch. You will encounter parents with a different
view from yourself. To be a successful school leader, at whatever level, the ability and willingness on all sides to engage
in a difficult conversation is vital. Yet all too often such conversations are avoided, or conflicting demands met with
appeasement, with sometimes disastrous results. This course prepares you and your stakeholders to actively engage
in open and honest conversations. You will learn well tried and tested tips and techniques with direct relevance to everyday school experience. In good schools, people talk to each other not about each other.

Objectives
 Understand the importance of being prepared to hold difficult conversations
 Establish the causes of disagreement/conflict
 Use language to shift perspective and build bridges
 Prepare and plan for difficult meetings
 Recognise and manage varying personality characteristics

​Videos

1. An overview of conflict: Why difficult conversations are necessary & why a culture of facing up to difficult conversations is healthy. Video: 24 minutes.
2. Different people are different: How your school can prevent the number of difficult encounters. Video: 16 minutes.
3. Managing 'difficult' people and those who are resistant to change. Video: 15 Minutes.
4. Colleagues and staff: How to run a potentially difficult meeting. Video: 19 Minutes.
5. Further specific guidance on difficult colleagues and parents. Video: 18 minutes.
6. Conclusions. Video: 15 minutes.

There is also a 38 page booklet that accompanies this course that includes multiple activities to complete.

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