Self Differentiated
We have always been taught that we are unique, unrepeatable, and different, but as teachers and leaders, we must have that unique ingredient that leads us to success.
It is not easy to innovate, be creative, and manage many factors; to be a differentiated leader, you need something different that determines how to do everything uniquely.
When I started developing my Innovation Proposal, I faced significant challenges and questions I had never asked myself: Is this innovative? Is it a proposal that impacts and helps that problem that I see be resolved?
Moreover, I understood that a leader must be differentiated and constantly seek to be so.
Let us see how to implement those crucial conversations necessary to achieve significant changes.
Crucial Conversations
The power of words! Being a mother and a teacher has shown me how much truth there is in those five words; being a good communicator is not only an ability to develop adequate personal relationships, and this is said by someone who has a 20-year-old daughter and has had to learn how to communicate effectively and efficiently with a teenager.
As leaders and educators, we must be able to develop difficult conversations successfully without losing the initial purpose.
Crucial Conversations Strategies
Start With Heart
Control emotions and focus on demonstrating passion, Communicating that your motives for the conversation are good, and you stick to focusing on what we want will help others understand your motives and stick to the goals.
Learn to Look
Prevent fear, encourage open dialogue, when people are feeling frustrated or unsafe they can react with silence (withdrawing from the conversation) or violence (trying to control or attacking others).
Make it Safe
If people are starting to feel unsafe, it is important to reestablish mutual purpose for the conversation and mutual respect for each other. A way that you can help with this would be to show them that you care about their interests and not to get caught up in the emotion of the room and focus on facts.
Master your Stories
It is so important to be sure that you control your emotions and help others control their emotions through mastering the stories that you bring to the table. Being aware that each person has a different perspective and taking time to look at the situation from that perspective can really help create new emotions
State your Path
After mastering your stories and the emotions that you present during a conversation, you have to look at ways to express your thoughts. This needs to be done respectfully, but also needs to be direct and to the point. Sharing your facts helps you keep stories and emotions out of the content. If you can find ways to share your conclusions with others without using opinions and feelings, people can take in the information and process.
Explore others Path
After expressing your thoughts and conclusions, it is important to find ways to seek out everyone else's perspectives, facts and ideas. You may have to encourage others to share their thoughts, and it is a vital piece of the conversation because it allows others to feel safe and take ownership in the goal and purpose of the conversation.
Move to Action
Conversations won't mean too much if they are not moved from talking to action. As ideas are expressed in the dialogue, part of the next steps are to get those ideas into a place where it will lead to action. Thinking through the steps that will move the idea into action is the perfect last step in a conversation.
References:
Patterson, K., Grenny, J., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2012). Crucial conversations tools for talking when stakes are high, Second Edition (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Vital Smarts India. (2012, February 10). Crucial Conversations Explained in 2 Minutes [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ixEI4_2Xivw
Successful By Design. (2021, February 23). Crucial Conversations Summary & Review [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Q2yG142cyNg