The Principal as Leader of Challenging Conversations
Purchase
Description
"The last thing a principal needs is more stress! This book helps build skills that will ensure that challenging conversations go the way they should—toward resolution and peace."
—Beth Madison, Principal
George Middle School, Portland, Oregon
Direct difficult discussions toward successful outcomes every time!
For every principal who has ever wished for a quick reference guide to keeping challenging conversations on course, the ideal tool is here! Inside are all the skills you need for navigating high-stakes interactions with staff, parents, students, and district leaders, and steering them toward win-win solutions. Case studies throughout the book identify the risk areas and provide the steps to mastering techniques for
- Active listening
- Assertive communication
- Providing effective feedback
- Staying calm
- Problem solving
- Mediation
Also included are scripts, sample dialogues, style inventories, checklists, and resources for practicing skills learned from the case studies. Like having a communications coach in your back pocket, this guide gives tips for building a collaborative culture focused on what matters most—working together to achieve student success.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
Preface
- The Goal- Meeting the Challenge
- Organization of the Book and Special Features
- Who Will Benefit?
- 1. Introduction – Dimensions of Challenging Conversations
- What is a Challenging Conversation?
- Chat, Challenge and Crisis
- Challenging Conversations - Sources of Challenge
- Factors That Determine a Challenging Conversation
- Crisis or Challenge
- You, Your Community and Challenging Conversations
- Challenging Conversations - Core Concepts
- Power and Influence
- Why Have Challenging Conversations – Some Good Reasons to Talk
- Why We Avoid Challenging Conversations
- Challenging Conversations and a Collaborative School Culture
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice – The Principal and the Bully
- Your Personal Case Study
- 2. Engaging in Challenging Conversations
- A Framework for Conversations That Matter
- Engaging in Challenging Conversations – Principles
- Engaging in Challenging Conversations - The Critical Path
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice – Cleaning Up
- Your Personal Case Study – First Reflection
- 3. Listening for Meaning
- Why Should We Listen? The Case for Active Listening
- Active Listening
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Reframing
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Second Reflection
- 4. Providing Effective Feedback
- Elements of Effective Feedback
- Barriers to Providing Effective Feedback
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Third Reflection
- 5. Being Assertive
- “Be hard on the problem, soft on the people”
- Being Assertive- Techniques
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Fourth Reflection
- 6. Managing Anger: Yours and Theirs
- What Bugs Me? - Different Things Bother Different People Differently at Different Times
- Some Approaches to Anger
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Fifth Reflection
- 7. How Do You Respond to Challenging Conversations?
- Your Conversational/Conflict Style – Who are You?
- Conversational Strategies – Choices that We Can Make
- Factors that Affect Strategy Choice
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Final Reflection
- 8. The School Leader as Mediator - Facilitating the Conversations of Others
- Why Get Involved?
- The Mediation Process – Facilitating Conversations
- Pre-Mediation
- The Opening Phase
- Resolution Phase
- Closing Phase
- The Promise of Mediation
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
Afterword
Afterword
Summary – Key Concepts to Remember
Summary – Key Concepts to Remember
References and Suggested Readings
References and Suggested Readings
Resources
Resources
Index
Index
Additional materials
Description
"The last thing a principal needs is more stress! This book helps build skills that will ensure that challenging conversations go the way they should—toward resolution and peace."
—Beth Madison, Principal
George Middle School, Portland, Oregon
Direct difficult discussions toward successful outcomes every time!
For every principal who has ever wished for a quick reference guide to keeping challenging conversations on course, the ideal tool is here! Inside are all the skills you need for navigating high-stakes interactions with staff, parents, students, and district leaders, and steering them toward win-win solutions. Case studies throughout the book identify the risk areas and provide the steps to mastering techniques for
- Active listening
- Assertive communication
- Providing effective feedback
- Staying calm
- Problem solving
- Mediation
Also included are scripts, sample dialogues, style inventories, checklists, and resources for practicing skills learned from the case studies. Like having a communications coach in your back pocket, this guide gives tips for building a collaborative culture focused on what matters most—working together to achieve student success.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
Preface
- The Goal- Meeting the Challenge
- Organization of the Book and Special Features
- Who Will Benefit?
- 1. Introduction – Dimensions of Challenging Conversations
- What is a Challenging Conversation?
- Chat, Challenge and Crisis
- Challenging Conversations - Sources of Challenge
- Factors That Determine a Challenging Conversation
- Crisis or Challenge
- You, Your Community and Challenging Conversations
- Challenging Conversations - Core Concepts
- Power and Influence
- Why Have Challenging Conversations – Some Good Reasons to Talk
- Why We Avoid Challenging Conversations
- Challenging Conversations and a Collaborative School Culture
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice – The Principal and the Bully
- Your Personal Case Study
- 2. Engaging in Challenging Conversations
- A Framework for Conversations That Matter
- Engaging in Challenging Conversations – Principles
- Engaging in Challenging Conversations - The Critical Path
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice – Cleaning Up
- Your Personal Case Study – First Reflection
- 3. Listening for Meaning
- Why Should We Listen? The Case for Active Listening
- Active Listening
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Reframing
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Second Reflection
- 4. Providing Effective Feedback
- Elements of Effective Feedback
- Barriers to Providing Effective Feedback
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Third Reflection
- 5. Being Assertive
- “Be hard on the problem, soft on the people”
- Being Assertive- Techniques
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Fourth Reflection
- 6. Managing Anger: Yours and Theirs
- What Bugs Me? - Different Things Bother Different People Differently at Different Times
- Some Approaches to Anger
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Fifth Reflection
- 7. How Do You Respond to Challenging Conversations?
- Your Conversational/Conflict Style – Who are You?
- Conversational Strategies – Choices that We Can Make
- Factors that Affect Strategy Choice
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Final Reflection
- 8. The School Leader as Mediator - Facilitating the Conversations of Others
- Why Get Involved?
- The Mediation Process – Facilitating Conversations
- Pre-Mediation
- The Opening Phase
- Resolution Phase
- Closing Phase
- The Promise of Mediation
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
Afterword
Afterword
Summary – Key Concepts to Remember
Summary – Key Concepts to Remember
References and Suggested Readings
References and Suggested Readings
Resources
Resources
Index
Index
Additional materials
Reviews
February 2011 | 160 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/02/2026 | 9781412981156 | $37.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/02/2026 | 9781452296326 | $35.00 |
"The last thing a principal needs is more stress! This book helps build skills that will ensure that challenging conversations go the way they should—toward resolution and peace."
—Beth Madison, Principal
George Middle School, Portland, Oregon
Direct difficult discussions toward successful outcomes every time!
For every principal who has ever wished for a quick reference guide to keeping challenging conversations on course, the ideal tool is here! Inside are all the skills you need for navigating high-stakes interactions with staff, parents, students, and district leaders, and steering them toward win-win solutions. Case studies throughout the book identify the risk areas and provide the steps to mastering techniques for
- Active listening
- Assertive communication
- Providing effective feedback
- Staying calm
- Problem solving
- Mediation
Also included are scripts, sample dialogues, style inventories, checklists, and resources for practicing skills learned from the case studies. Like having a communications coach in your back pocket, this guide gives tips for building a collaborative culture focused on what matters most—working together to achieve student success.
Table Of Contents:
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- The Goal- Meeting the Challenge
- Organization of the Book and Special Features
- Who Will Benefit?
- 1. Introduction – Dimensions of Challenging Conversations
- What is a Challenging Conversation?
- Chat, Challenge and Crisis
- Challenging Conversations - Sources of Challenge
- Factors That Determine a Challenging Conversation
- Crisis or Challenge
- You, Your Community and Challenging Conversations
- Challenging Conversations - Core Concepts
- Power and Influence
- Why Have Challenging Conversations – Some Good Reasons to Talk
- Why We Avoid Challenging Conversations
- Challenging Conversations and a Collaborative School Culture
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice – The Principal and the Bully
- Your Personal Case Study
- 2. Engaging in Challenging Conversations
- A Framework for Conversations That Matter
- Engaging in Challenging Conversations – Principles
- Engaging in Challenging Conversations - The Critical Path
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice – Cleaning Up
- Your Personal Case Study – First Reflection
- 3. Listening for Meaning
- Why Should We Listen? The Case for Active Listening
- Active Listening
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Reframing
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Second Reflection
- 4. Providing Effective Feedback
- Elements of Effective Feedback
- Barriers to Providing Effective Feedback
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Third Reflection
- 5. Being Assertive
- “Be hard on the problem, soft on the people”
- Being Assertive- Techniques
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Fourth Reflection
- 6. Managing Anger: Yours and Theirs
- What Bugs Me? - Different Things Bother Different People Differently at Different Times
- Some Approaches to Anger
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Fifth Reflection
- 7. How Do You Respond to Challenging Conversations?
- Your Conversational/Conflict Style – Who are You?
- Conversational Strategies – Choices that We Can Make
- Factors that Affect Strategy Choice
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Your Personal Case Study – Final Reflection
- 8. The School Leader as Mediator - Facilitating the Conversations of Others
- Why Get Involved?
- The Mediation Process – Facilitating Conversations
- Pre-Mediation
- The Opening Phase
- Resolution Phase
- Closing Phase
- The Promise of Mediation
- Summary
- Book Study Questions
- Case Study Practice
- Afterword
- Summary – Key Concepts to Remember
- References and Suggested Readings
- Resources
- Index