Month: June 2019

As superintendents we are faced with having tough conversations on a frequent basis.  The reality is we operate in a political context and serve varying constituencies which rarely agree.    So, the question is how do we succeed in this environment?  Also, what techniques can we use to make the inevitable tough conversation easier? First, we must recognize that tough conversations are typically borne out of conflicting ideas, perceptions, conclusions or behaviors.  It may be that a party does not agree with a decision, or wants you to pursue a certain goal, or is mad at someone and wants you to …

We are all hiring principals, assistant principals and other administrators this time of year.  The individuals selected need to learn not only the nuances of their positions, but also how to successfully navigate a new context.  One of the biggest deficits I have seen with incoming administrators is how they approach the change process, so let’s focus on that issue for today. Most have great new ideas and some want to implement them immediately, without much reflection, planning, or collaboration.  At times they hit a home run with a hastily approached change effort, but more often than not they strike …