Hard conversations are an inherent part of school leadership. More often than not, as a principal or an assistant principal, you will engage in hard conversations, and you will need to do so in productive ways. Speaking with clarity and courage and addressing difficult situations both humanely and directly is a part of your day-to-day work.

Five questions to ask yourself before having hard conversations with faculty and staff can help you have useful and productive hard conversations with greater chances of success. These questions cannot be asked and answered within a short period of time, and some of the answers need collective action at your school. Yet, if you move toward making these questions more common and more considered, the chances of having hard conversations with positive results will increase.

These hard conversations go beyond speaking up when truly unsafe actions are taking place, such as drug or alcohol abuse, mental health issues, or anything that creates unsafe working conditions. These hard conversations focus on implementing strategic goals, curricular initiatives, teaching standards, job descriptions, and living out the norms of collaboration to foster a positive culture of learning and ensure the well-being of all who work at your school.