Having Hard Conversations

A thousand things are unspoken in schools every day, and the lack of truth telling can bring about an ineffective status quo and result in our students not getting the education they deserve. For most educators, confronting colleagues with truths about ineffective practices or potentially harmful behavior can be extremely challenging. Having Hard Conversations is designed to teach adults to talk to one another about difficult issues. The author guides readers through a series of preparatory steps leading to the actual conversation and helps educators to: define the challenge; identify and map desired outcomes; prepare an advance script; and, consider external factors such as where and when the conversation should take place. Educators will gain a better understanding of the common reasons for not speaking out as well as the potential consequences of silence.