Praise for Transformative Conversations "In the 'superstorm' of writings about the crisis in higher education this little gem of a book stands out like a mindfulness bell. It calls us back to the only thing that truly matters—the energy and wisdom buried in the minds and hearts of dedicated educators." —Diana Chapman Walsh, president emerita, Wellesley College; trustee emerita, Amherst College; member of the MIT Corporation "This book is revolutionary! It is about transforming the very essence of higher education through the power of authentic conversation, knowing that as the people within the institution evolve, the institution will transform." —Patricia and Craig Neal, The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations; founders, Heartland Inc. "This is a radical story about how to create a more intimate and relational culture inside the halls of higher education.... for those who long for higher education to return from the abyss of siloed isolation to its original charter as a cooperative learning institution committed to developing the whole person in service of the common good." —Peter Block, Flawless Consulting and Abundant Community Transformative Conversations offers guidance to help readers create and sustain Formation Mentoring Communities, where faculty, staff, and administrators can speak openly and honestly to the heart of their work as educators and human beings.

Praise for Transformative Conversations "In the 'superstorm' of writings about the crisis in higher education this little gem of a book stands out like a mindfulness bell. It calls us back to the only thing that truly matters the energy and wisdom buried in the minds and hearts of dedicated educators." Diana Chapman Walsh, president emerita, Wellesley College; trustee emerita, Amherst College; member of the MIT Corporation "This book is revolutionary! It is about transforming the very essence of higher education through the power of authentic conversation, knowing that as the people within the institution evolve, the institution will transform." Patricia and Craig Neal, The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations; founders, Heartland Inc. "This is a radical story about how to create a more intimate and relational culture inside the halls of higher education.... for those who long for higher education to return from the abyss of siloed isolation to its original charter as a cooperative learning institution committed to developing the whole person in service of the common good." Peter Block, Flawless Consulting and Abundant Community Transformative Conversations offers guidance to help readers create and sustain Formation Mentoring Communities, where faculty, staff, and administrators can speak openly and honestly to the heart of their work as educators and human beings.

One of the New York Post's Top 10 Best Career Books of 2012 Repair communication breakdowns on the spot and drive positive results in every conversation Failed conversations can take a heavy toll on our professional and personal lives, threatening to damage relationships, erode trust, and make it impossible to resolve conflicts, reach decisions, or achieve mutual understanding. Conversation Transformation gives you practical guidelines for managing the six most common (and aggravating) conversation killers: yes-buts, mind-reads, negative predictions, leading questions, complaining, and verbal attacks. Each skill-building chapter guides you through a three-step process for replacing unconstructive habits with more effective responses: AWARENESS Learn to recognize an ineffective communication pattern the instant it occurs ACTION Use specific new strategies to turn the conversation in a better direction PRACTICE Engage in repeated, structured practice to turn those actions into new habits Praise for Conversation Transformation: “Devastatingly insightful . . . provides the practical coaching you need to change old habits and transform your interactions.” —SHEILA HEEN and DOUGLAS STONE, bestselling authors of Difficult Conversations ”An invaluable resource . . . filled with simple tools and fixes to improve communication skills, exactly the skills that can make us all more effective in politics, business, and life.” —SENATOR JOHN F. KERRY “Practical, inspiring, and powerful. You will never look at your conversations the same way again.” —SUZANNE BATES, bestselling author of Speak Like a CEO and Discover Your CEO Brand

Meaningful Conversations invites readers who earnestly desire high achievement for all students in all American schools to the table for a nine-course meal of food for thought that, altogether, satisfies educators’ hunger for comprehensive and transformative school improvement. Addressing critical issues in contemporary schools—including leadership, school culture, curriculum, and assessment—this book offers conversation pieces that describe success standards for schools and conversation points that specifically address the unique responsibilities of district leaders, administrators, and teachers.

What effect has feminism had on Canadian education since the 1970 Royal Commission on the Status of Women, and to what end? Transforming Conversations explores post-commission feminist thought and action in the contexts of primary, secondary, post-secondary, and adult education. In this volume, teachers, professors, and educational administrators – many trailblazers themselves – document the historical experiences and outcomes of feminist action in university faculties of education, departments of educational administration, academic and professional societies, teachers’ unions, and community groups over the past five decades. They begin by exploring liberal feminism as an initial response to the historical context in which female educators spoke up for women’s rights and reshaped formal education systems. The contributors further explore how feminist theory was reconceptualized as women moved into formal leadership roles across education sectors. Last, contributors consider female educators at the intersection of gender and other systems of exclusion, such as race and class, despite ostensibly inclusive feminist theory that continues to be bounded by Western, colonial, neoliberal ideologies. Transforming Conversations considers the complex effects feminism has had and continues to have on Canadian education, acknowledges voices that have been marginalized, and invites readers to continue a transformative feminist dialogue.

NEW 4TH EDITION now available! Refer to isbn: 9781473691124 THE BOOK THAT CHANGED THE COACHING FIELD FOREVER This current, third edition includes fresh coaching examples, the latest in coaching terminology and an expanded, web-based 'Coach's Toolkit'. Used as the definitive resource in dozens of professional development programs, Co-Active Coaching teaches the transformative communication process that allows individuals from all levels of an organization - from students to teachers, and direct reports to managers - to build strong, collaborative relationships.

Making progress on complex, problematic situations requires a new approach to working together: transformative facilitation, a structured and creative process for removing the obstacles to fluid forward movement. It is becoming less straightforward for people to move forward together. They face increasing complexity and decreasing control. They need to work with more people from across more divides. In such situations, the most common ways of advancing—some people telling others what to do, or everyone just doing what they think they need to—aren't adequate. One better way is through facilitating. But the most common approaches to facilitating—bossy vertical directing from above or collegial horizontal accompanying from alongside—aren't adequate. They often leave the participants frustrated and yearning for breakthrough. This book describes a new approach: transformative facilitation. It doesn't choose either the bossy vertical or the collegial horizontal approach: it cycles back and forth between them. Rather than forcing or cajoling, the facilitator removes the obstacles that stand in the way of people contributing and connecting equitably. It enables people to bring their whole selves to the process. This book is for anyone who helps people work together to transform their situation, be it a professional facilitator, manager, consultant, coach, chairperson, organizer, mediator, stakeholder, or friend. It offers a broad and bold vision of the contribution that facilitation can make to helping people collaborate to make progress.