Difficult conversations are a part of every educator’s world, whether it's addressing performance concerns, navigating team dynamics, or holding a student’s wellbeing at the center of a tough decision. But let’s be honest: many of us dread them. They’re uncomfortable, emotionally charged, and often feel easier to avoid. The problem is that avoiding these conversations can come at a high cost to trust, morale, and ultimately, the school's culture.

In this episode, I’m joined by leadership and culture expert Shane Michael Hatton, who has spent the past decade helping leaders across the globe communicate more effectively and build healthier, more connected teams. Shane shares practical insights and mindset shifts to help school leaders approach difficult conversations with more clarity, courage and compassion. Whether you’re a principal, middle leader, or classroom teacher, you’ll come away from this episode feeling more equipped to lean into the conversations that matter most.

In this episode, we explore:

• What makes a conversation “difficult”, and why they’re so commonly avoided
• The hidden costs of avoidance and what’s at stake when we stay silent
• Why the "conversations before the conversation" matter just as much as the main event
• How to foster psychological safety so that open dialogue becomes the norm
• The leadership traits and everyday behaviours that build trust and rapport with staff
• Shane’s simple framework for navigating difficult conversations with greater impact
• How to balance empathy and care with clarity and accountability
• What to do after the conversation, and why follow-through is where trust is either built or broken

About Shane:

Shane Michael Hatton is a globally recognised author, speaker, and leadership expert with over a decade of experience in helping leaders and teams thrive. Combining a strong foundation in business and psychology, Shane equips leaders to communicate with impact, build trust, and create high-performing team cultures. He’s the author of two books, including the bestselling Let’s Talk Culture – The Conversations You Need to Create the Team You Want, and the host of the podcast Phone Calls With Clever People.

Shane’s insights have been featured in renowned publications, including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and The Australian. As an executive coach and facilitator, he’s worked with organisations across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, both in Australia and internationally. Today, Shane is on a mission to elevate how leaders think and talk about culture — one courageous conversation at a time.

Links and Resources:

Well-Led Schools Partnership Program

Watch Shane’s video series: Nine Leadership Shifts

https://shanemhatton.com/firsttimeleader/

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Shane via:

His website: shanehattonspeaks.com 

Instagram: instagram.com/shanemhatton

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shanemhatton

Listen to his podcast: Phone Calls With Clever People Podcast

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au 

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/ 

Email: hello@adriennehornby.com.au