14. Difficult Conversations: Blame - Part 1

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like it or not, schools are home to a number of difficult conversations. Discussing topics such as...</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">pay and benefits</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inappropriate behavior</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Underperformance</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These can be uncomfortable. But having successful one-on-one conversations is what separates great school leaders from ineffective ones. Difficult conversations may not be fun, but school leaders who navigate them successfully can build stronger relationships with their staff and provide needed guidance and correction on workplace performance or behavior - which fosters staff engagement.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today’s episode is the first of a four-part series on the four shields of difficult conversations. As a leader, it is your responsibility to take note of when your team is using these shields and take the necessary steps towards having those difficult conversations. It is only by doing this that your team will feel heard, supported and held accountable. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>In this episode, I talk about...</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The concept of self-protection and how it shows up in our day-to-day life.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The 3 strategies for removing blame from your school’s culture.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The questions to ask yourself when your staff start blaming each other</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Identifying the 4 shields that school leaders and teachers bring up in conversations when difficult conversations come up</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When there is blame, there