Conversations are a critical part of leading and leadership in schools – for teams, for planning, for motivating and inspiring results and actions.

Most leaders don’t think about “having powerful conversations” as a critical skill.

Just imagine the impact if everyone on your staff became exceptional at having meaningful conversations. In our RCG seminars we have the joy of identifying critical language for having those exceptional and impactful conversations. Our belief is those skills and tools lead to real reflection, powerful reflective feedback and great impetus for change and growth.

Along with all the things you have learned in your Results Coaching seminars there are many books that offer thoughts for having impactful conversations. One, Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres, speaks about the power of conversations. They say a conversation is just “powerful” period, whether it’s good or bad. A bad conversation can turn a good day sour, influencing interactions for hours to come. A good conversation can brighten your day and propel you into high performance and a sense of elation.

When you think about it, everything arises from conversation. There is either internal dialogue or engagement with others – each word influencing what’s possible in the next moment. “Conversations influence our health, wellness, happiness, relationships, performance and what’s possible.” Amadeus Wolf said, “sometimes the greatest adventure is simply a conversation.” How about that?! Conversations are an essential part of functioning in an educational community. We haven’t always thought about conversations being so important. Neurophysiology research shows that conversations are integral to our capacity to access the executive center of our brain, the pre-fontal cortex where high order thinking, creativity, trust, good decision making, and the ability to connect are possible. Conversations that tap the threat response or uncertainty stimulate the release of cortisol, epinephrine and testosterone, shutting down access to the pre-frontal cortex and stimulate the fight, flight, freeze, or appease response. Truly skilled conversations have the power to shift the brain from threat to safety, stimulating a whole different set of hormones – oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. These hormones allow us to reconnect, open up to what others have to say and rekindle trust. Think about your powerful research tool: SCARF – providing easy options to impact a conversation positively and productively. Additionally, your mindset and language use of positive intent is further supported by the research of positive psychology showing positivity in the workplace builds resiliency, high performance, innovation and collaboration. Think about it…when you use this research – what you know now – you will be elevating your leadership – in whatever role – by daily witnessing the power of a great conversation. And, in our work in education, a conversation is worth having because it will directly impact results for kids and adults! That’s exactly what you want!!