Julie Gillespie, Ottawa Area ISDJulie Gillespie, Ottawa Area ISD

Rich Zuker, Holland Public Rich Zuker, Holland Public SchoolsSchools

Typical Performance Feedback Relished by few…..dreaded by most…..

Can be uncomfortable for both parties

Is very often avoided

Or, if conducted, is so brief as to be meaningless (video

clip)

Most performance reviews are relatively ineffective in

providing meaningful feedbackmeaningful feedback

Remember…feedbackfeedback is the breakfast of champions (One

Minute Manager)

Conversation = Transformation“When you think of a fierce conversation, think passion,

integrity, authenticity, collaboration…..think cultural

transformation. Think of leadership.”Susan Scott

Fierce Conversations

Defining Fierce Conversations The word “fierce” has a number of synonyms

including robust, intense, strong, passionate, and eager

A fierce conversation should not be menacing, cruel or threatening

A fierce conversation fierce conversation is one in which we come out from behind ourselves into the conversation and make it real...

Author, Susan Scott (thankfully not related to Michael Scott)

Master the Courage to Interrogate Reality

Come out from Behind Yourself Into the Conversation and

Make it Real

Be here…prepared to be nowhere else

Tackle Your Toughest Challenge Today

Obey Your Instincts

Take Responsibility for Your Emotional Wake

Let Silence do the Heavy Lifting

Conversation=Relationship=LeadershipConversations are our leadership.

Choices:

Interrogate reality or pretend not to know what we know

Confront performance issues or avoid the risky discomfort

of putting our vision out there

We effect change and help people grow by engaging in robust conversations with ourselves and others

Difficult and vitally importantAs a leader, you get what you tolerate.

Purpose of the ConversationPeople need to know what their leader expects of them

Provoke learning

Enrich relationships

SuccessWhile it may be the real conversation that we are afraid of, it is the unreal conversation that should scare us to scare us to death.death.

The Anatomy of the ConversationThree phases:Three phases:Opening statement: Homework – Practice – 60 Seconds

1. Name the issue“I’d like to talk with you about time on task for students in your classroom.”

2. Select an illustrative example“I’ve noticed during a some recent visits to your classroom that students do not seem to know what to do when they enter your classroom or finish a task early.”

3. Describe your emotions“I’m concerned that there is a significant amount of time lost which could be used for instruction.”

Most people want to hear the truth even if it is unpalatable.

The Anatomy of the ConversationThree phases continued:Three phases continued:

4. Clarify what is at stake“You have a high needs student population whose performance on common assessments and Terra Nova has not been good Soon they will be taking the MEAP.”

5. Identify your contribution to the problem“I’ve contributed to this problem by not saying something sooner. For that, I apologize.”

6. Indicate your desire to resolve the issue“I want to maximize time-on-task for all of your students.”

7. Invite your partner to respond“I need to understand your thinking about transitions.”

Improving employee performance……one conversation at a time.

The Anatomy of the ConversationThree phases:Three phases:Interaction: The bulk of the conversation happens here

8. Inquire into your partner’s viewAsk questions and dig for understanding.

Resolution9. What have we learned?

“How can we move forward form here given our new reality or our new understanding?

10. Make an agreementDetermine how you will hold one another accountable to keep it.

If you know something must change… know that it is you who If you know something must change… know that it is you who must change it.must change it.

Potential Landmines Blaming Name calling or labeling Using sarcasm Attaching weight to the tip-of-the-iceberg Threatening, intimidating Exaggerating Pointing to someone else’s failure Saying, “If I were you…” Bringing up a lot of old baggage Assassinating someone in public Asking, “Why did you do that?” instead of “What were you trying to

do?” Making blatantly negative facial expressions Layering my interpretation on something someone has said or done;

ascribing negative or false motives Being unresponsive or refusing to speak

Putting Principles into Practice You are in your first year first year directing Human Resources. Your Principals and Building Administrators have not have not

placed a high priority on evaluating certified staff. placed a high priority on evaluating certified staff. You are finding that the High School PrincipalHigh School Principal, who has

been with the District for 21 years has not evaluated a has not evaluated a teacher or support staff member for at least the past five teacher or support staff member for at least the past five years. years.

Though you have provided presentations on the new legislation and lists of teachers to be evaluated, you are you are hearing that nothing is changing at the High School.hearing that nothing is changing at the High School.

Take three minutes three minutes to prepare your opening statement that you would have when you initiate the Conversation that needs to take place. Share your statement with another person at your table.

Putting Principles into Practice• Mr. Barney has been in the district sixteen years has been in the district sixteen years and is a very

popular teacher.

• He has built a reputation for being the teacher of Honors and AP built a reputation for being the teacher of Honors and AP level courses, as well as for his humor. level courses, as well as for his humor.

• He insists that the students at this level need to be treated like insists that the students at this level need to be treated like adults. adults.

• Over the past six weeks, eight parents from a new Honors course eight parents from a new Honors course complained that Mr. Barney’s sarcasm and cutting wit has complained that Mr. Barney’s sarcasm and cutting wit has demeaned and belittled their children. demeaned and belittled their children.

• You shared with Mr. Barney one complaint of this nature last year but it seems that he dismissed that as an overly sensitive, he dismissed that as an overly sensitive, disgruntled lower achiever. disgruntled lower achiever.

• What will you do now in response to these complaints?

Take three minutes to prepare your opening statement that you would have when you initiate the Conversation that needs to take place. Share your statement with another person at your table.

Wrap Up & Questions

Remember…Remember…

Fierce conversations are necessary and important

Talk with people, not at them

Feedback isn’t fatal