Better Conversations

Explore practical strategies to improve communication & strengthen conversations in both professional & personal settings. Our schools are only as good as the conversations that take place in them. This workshop introduces communication beliefs and habits that will help anyone communicate more effectively, both professionally and personally. This course is delivered by Growth Coaching International (GCI) under our partnership agreement with Instructional Coaching Group (ICG). Designed around the key themes of the book, ‘Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to be More Credible, Caring and Connected’, the aim of the course is to present a framework for improving professional dialogue within educational communities and beyond. In Dr Jim Knight’s words: “Effective communication is an essential skill for a fulfilled life, and we can’t teach it to students if we don’t know how to do it ourselves.” GCI facilitators have worked in partnership with Dr. Knight to prepare this highly regarded course for in-person delivery in our region. Participants begin by taking stock of their current beliefs and communication habits by considering two simple questions: • Where are you now? • Where do you want to be? Participants then consider the “10 Habits” required for better conversations. This course will be of interest to anyone wishing to examine their own communication and develop new habits that lead to enhanced dialogue in their setting. Participants will explore the following questions: • What is my current ‘communication profile’? • What are our beliefs about communication and how do they influence our actions? • How do we measure up in terms of top-down communication versus partnership communication based on the 6 Beliefs of Better Conversations? • What are the 10 Habits of Better Conversations and how do we measure up against these? • What can we do to get better at fostering true dialogue with others? Richard Reid is based in County Down, Northern Ireland and has over 25 years of experience in education. He has been a class teacher, vice principal, primary field officer and principal. His first experience of coach training was while on secondment as a primary field officer with the local education authority (2007-2009). Since then, Richard has been passionate about applying a coaching approach to his leadership role as principal of three very different primary schools over a twelve year period. In 2019 Richard decided to start the process of moving out of full-time headship with a view to moving into full-time coaching and training and having completed further qualifications in coaching he stepped out of headship completely in 2022. In 2020 Richard started his own podcast ‘HeadRoom – Curious Conversations for Leaders in Education’ with the intention of raising the profile of coaching in education within Northern Ireland. After a series of very successful ‘HeadRoom’ interviews Richard was asked in 2021 to take over hosting and producing GCI’s Coaching in Education podcast. Since then he has produced some fascinating ‘stories from the field’ to inspire and motivate listeners from around the globe. During 2022 Richard completed the GCI ‘Coach Accreditation Programme’ and now as a GCI Senior Consultant, is currently developing a GCI training presence in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He has a real passion to see coaching cultures start to emerge and become embedded in schools across the length and breadth of Ireland.