Courageous conversations can, often times, be uncomfortable, but they usually produce positive results.  Courageous conversations focus on serious topics, such as work performance, inappropriate behaviors or comments; they can focus on any area that require adjustments.  Whenever one person has a discussion with another person about work performance, behaviors, or comments, that discussion can be considered a “courageous conversation;” these conversations are also called redirections or feedback.  

“Courageous conversations are sometimes uncomfortable, but produce positive results.” 

In middle level and high schools, these conversations usually occur as a result of students making poor choices.  As students mature, they become less receptive to redirections and teachers often have to find the courage to redirect scholars and place them on the correct path.  Most often teens will display resistance to courageous conversations about, but in actuality, they are listening.  Courageous conversations show teens that someone is watching and shows them that someone cares. 

“Courageous conversations show teens that someone is watching and shows them that someone cares.”

Teachers and parents, usually find that it’s easiest to not say anything to teens, and sometimes young children, about inappropriate behaviors or comments; less energy is exerted when nothing is said to correct the behavior.  However, putting forth the energy to help a teen or young child correct their behaviors or learn more appropriate ways of responding to others, will produce more positive outcomes in the future.   These, sometimes, difficult conversations help to improve the climate and culture of schools because scholars are being reminded of rules and expectations the school. So despite the number of courageous conversations that take place during a school day, just remember, positive results will eventually become evident. Have a few courageous conversations this week with scholars to help them make good choices.