Communication

Successful parent – teacher conferences are important in establishing good relationships with parents. Well planned and conducted parent – teacher conferences establish a solid foundation for a partnership that is in the student’s best interests and prevent further problems developing. Preparation is vital for effective meetings with parents. Parent – Teacher Conferences are ‘Moments of Truth’ for parents. They are important times where parents come into direct contact with us and form an impression of our school. Be prepared – ensure that you have notes about the key areas you want to discuss and the key messages that you want the parent to understand. As well as discussing progress and achievement in academic areas it is important to consider pertinent…

November is undoubtedly a busy month in schools. End of year events and accumulated fatigue can lead to short fuses and an even shorter supply of patience. This can lead to short, sharp responses that damage relationships. Making a concerted effort to use encouraging language can make a significant difference to the school climate. Encouragement builds wellbeing. It expects the best for the other person. The language of encouragement is open to all. It is easy to learn. You can start right away. Give a compliment – You “look, are, give, make __ ” fill-in your own word to give a sincere compliment to those you work with everyday. Praise an action – Praise you earn is powerful, crammed full…

The Mineral Rights conversation model is one of four approaches advocated in the Fierce Conversations program. Using this model allows you to engage in rich conversations and dig deep to the heart of important matters, one conversation at a time. Identify the issue or need – “What is the most important thing we should be talking about?” Your mission is to understand what matters most to the person you are trying to help. Don’t be quick to assume. Try to identify the need or the problem they are trying to solve or the result they are trying to achieve. Remember that what they might identify as the solution isn’t always what is needed. Resist the temptation to give solutions or…

It’s “Tax time” for every individual & organisation whether Company, Community, Clan or Church. These magic words present an opportunity to finalise projections for the next 12 months, complete financial returns and report to stakeholders. Similarly, it is an ideal time to consider the effectiveness of individual and organisational communications over the past 12 months. Consider the people we work, live and play with. Let’s start with a few questions: Do your relationships feel ‘out of balance’? What sort of ‘return on investment’ are you seeing? Have external factors influenced performance outcomes? Does it seem that expectations just aren’t being met? Time to take responsibility and be part of the solution! Are you ready? Choose two out of the following…