The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools, Third Edition


Book Description

Why don’t kids learn? Why can’t students do higher order thinking? Why do educators have endless staff meetings with few results? How can parents and teachers communicate better? The pressure upon educators to teach more, to a wider range and number of students, with decreasing resources and supports makes it urgent to find tools to answer such questions. The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools demonstrates how the Focused Conversation method, widely used in organizations and businesses, can effectively be used in a K-12 educational setting. Each section deals with interactions among students, staff, and parents, and elaborates with over 100 sample conversations designed to make learning more meaningful, prevent and solve problems, and make communications in meetings more effective. Appendices showcase integrated curriculum examples where conversations have been used in unique combinations and list sample questions for each level of the conversation method. With a bibliography and index included, and patterned after its highly successful predecessor, The Art of Focused Conversation: 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in the Workplace, this book will be welcomed by parents, students, educators, and school administrators everywhere. The Institute of Cultural Affairs has over 40 years experience in more than 32 nations. A unique facilitation, research and training organization, ICA Canada has provided participatory skills to many thousands of people worldwide.




The Art of Focused Conversation, Second Edition


Book Description

The essential bestselling guide to designing and leading useful and effective group conversations, now completely revised and updated Integrating over 60 years of research and development, this essential guide to group communication and participatory decision-making is an international bestseller. The Art of Focused Conversation, a core component of the Technology of Participation (ToP) methodology by The Institute of Cultural Affairs, is vital for facilitators aiming to lead effective conversations and foster collaboration. The fully updated and revised edition includes: Preparation and guidelines for discussing challenging topics and facilitating a focused conversation A comprehensive overview of the ORID framework, made up of Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, and Decisional questions which guide a group to wise decisions In-depth analysis of how the underlying structure of ToP is based on applied phenomenology and is supported by the latest findings in neuroscience and social psychology New sections on diversity, equity, and inclusion; work-life balance; conflict resolution; and guiding focused conversations online 125 sample conversations that can be adapted to any situation. Invigorate and elevate your group process with this invaluable resource— required reading for facilitators, leaders, educators, and anyone who wants to think clearly and guide thoughtful conversations.




The Art of Focused Conversation


Book Description

The best 'how-to' for encouraging consensus in firms and organizations. Communication within many organizations has been reduced to email, electronic file transfer, and hasty sound bytes at hurried meetings. More and more, people appear to have forgotten the value of wisdom gained by ordinary conversations. The Art of Focused Conversation convincingly restores this most human of attributes to prime place within businesses and organizations, and demonstrates what can be accomplished through the medium of focused conversation. Developed, tested, and extensively used by professionals in the field of organizational development, The Art of Focused Conversation is an invaluable resource for all those working to improve communications in firms and organizations.




The Trust Factor


Book Description

This hands-on guide is a valuable resource for both current and aspiring school leaders. Written in short, easy-to-read chapters, The Trust Factor, 2nd Edition presents real-world examples and relevant research to help you develop the essential skills you need for building trust with staff, teachers, students, and parents. The Trust Factor provides updated versions of over 50 practical strategies that will help you learn to: Recognize and avoid behaviors that damage trust Repair trust when it has been broken Navigate challenging situations, such as teacher evaluations, student discipline, parent complaints, or scarce resources Establish and sustain trust with faculty, staff, students, and community Approach social media in a way that builds trust with the community. The guidance in this book is explained with simple, easy-to-implement steps you can apply immediately to your own practice, and are accompanied by reflection questions and self-assessment tools to help practicing or aspiring educational leaders succeed.




Solutions Focus, 3rd edition


Book Description

Solutions Focus Practice is transforming coaching, consulting and leadership in organisations all over the world. A powerful yet simple approach to positive change, a solutions focus approach to people problems explores what works in a given situation and aims do more of it. The Solutions Focus is the definitive guide to this revolutionary yet practical alternative to conventional wisdom. It demonstrates how the unique SIMPLE method of working sidesteps the search for the causes of trouble and heads directly for the solution. Today national solutions focus associations around the world from Sweden to Australia, base their training on the methods explained here. Solutions focus is in widespread use by consultants, coaches, facilitators and managers. It can be applied at one-to-one, group or organisational levels. Applications include health and wellbeing, sales and negotiation, team building and leadership, performance management, organisational strategy and even peace-building and climate resilience. This long-awaited new edition of The Solutions Focus is fully revised and updated for today's executive, career and life coaches. Including the transformative OSKAR coaching framework, one of the most used throughout the coaching world. Revisions to this acclaimed book include updates throughout to position it in the contemporary landscape. Next generation developments are fully covered including new research on embodiment and experience, the role of hosting rather than directing, and the importance of detail. New case studies from around the world including Nestle, Kraft, Tate and Canon continue the book's legacy of learning from real cases by looking closely at what happens and how it works. Finally, new material exploring improvisation and co-constructed stories completes the update and will ensure this book remains the leader in its field for generations to come.




Difficult Conversations


Book Description

The 10th-anniversary edition of the New York Times business bestseller-now updated with "Answers to Ten Questions People Ask" We attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day-whether dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with a spouse, or negotiating with a client. From the Harvard Negotiation Project, the organization that brought you Getting to Yes, Difficult Conversations provides a step-by-step approach to having those tough conversations with less stress and more success. you'll learn how to: · Decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation · Start a conversation without defensiveness · Listen for the meaning of what is not said · Stay balanced in the face of attacks and accusations · Move from emotion to productive problem solving




The New Teacher Book


Book Description

Teaching is a lifelong challenge, but the first few years in the classroom are typically a teacher's hardest. This expanded collection of writings and reflections offers practical guidance on how to navigate the school system, form rewarding relationships with colleagues, and connect in meaningful ways with students and families from all cultures and backgrounds.




The Art of Mingling, Third Edition


Book Description

Fully revised and updated—with her trademark wit and practicality, Jeanne Martinet hands over the keys to feeling at ease in any social situation




The Art and Science of Brief Psychotherapies


Book Description

Each chapter is thoroughly updated, and new chapters cover such topics as dialectical behavior therapy, multicultural practice, and mentalizing, as well as fresh approaches to intervention, such as telepsychiatry and Internet-based interventions. There are also new videos on dialectical behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.




Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition


Book Description

Keep your cool and get the results you want when faced with crucial conversations. This New York Times bestseller and business classic has been fully updated for a world where skilled communication is more important than ever. The book that revolutionized business communications has been updated for today’s workplace. Crucial Conversations provides powerful skills to ensure every conversation—especially difficult ones—leads to the results you want. Written in an engaging and witty style, the book teaches readers how to be persuasive rather than abrasive, how to get back to productive dialogue when others blow up or clam up, and it offers powerful skills for mastering high-stakes conversations, regardless of the topic or person. This new edition addresses issues that have arisen in recent years. You’ll learn how to: Respond when someone initiates a crucial conversation with you Identify and address the lag time between identifying a problem and discussing it Communicate more effectively across digital mediums When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, you have three choices: Avoid a crucial conversation and suffer the consequences; handle the conversation poorly and suffer the consequences; or apply the lessons and strategies of Crucial Conversations and improve relationships and results. Whether they take place at work or at home, with your coworkers or your spouse, crucial conversations have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. With the skills you learn in this book, you'll never have to worry about the outcome of a crucial conversation again.