Leading with Clarity

Sonia Rodriguez | 9/27/25

I believe in fostering a community of curious, resilient, and critically thinking mathematicians who can navigate complex problems that impact our world. 

As I reflect on my why, my initial proposal and my call to action I’m reminded of the deeper purpose that drives the work.  Leaders influence and leadership is an emotional process (Friedman, 2017).   

“Leaders can remain calm and non-anxious while guiding the group through stressful situations, stabilizing and enabling healthy decision making.”

~Friedman et al., 2017

To become a self-differentiated leader, there are key factors I must address, particularly when managing high-stakes conversations like in my 6 sources of influence strategy, These include:

• Emotional Regulation: Managing my emotions, especially in high-stakes scenarios, so that I remain calm, focused, and confident regardless of the conversation's intensity.

• Clarity of Purpose: Have a clear understanding of the goals, such as the implementation of the Online Blended Coaching Strategy so that I can maintain direction during tough discussions.

• Active Listening: Practice active listening by being genuinely curious about others’ perspectives, helping me better understand objections and concerns, and ultimately fostering collaboration.

• Creating Safety: Establish an environment where all participants feel respected and safe, encouraging open and authentic dialogue.

• Proactive Dialogue: Address crucial conversations early on and don’t wait for issues to escalate or fester.

• Managing My Stories: Challenge my natural tendency to become defensive or assume negative intentions. Stay mindful of my internal narrative and approach conversations with a more open mindset.

Crucial conversations will play a pivotal role in implementing the Online Blended Coaching Strategy on elementary campuses.  According to Patterson et al. (2012), crucial conversations are those moments when the stakes are high, emotions run strong, and opinions differ.  Being able to have these conversations effectively is essential to avoid communication breakdowns and move initiatives forward especially implementing my 4DX Strategy for a new coaching model.

The crucial conversations methodology will equip me with the tools necessary to navigate these high-stakes discussions, such as addressing resistance due to time constraints, which is one of the expected challenges for teachers and administrators.  Here’s how the methodology supports this effort:

In my role as a district leader, I will encounter resistance to implementing the online blended coaching strategy due to time constraints. The skills learned from crucial conversations like staying calm, listening actively, and creating a safe, respectful dialogue are essential in addressing these concerns.  Working on my ability to have these conversations to change involves being able to craft these important sentences.   As a self-differentiated leader I need to model.  For example, during discussions about time limitations, I can be curious and ask for input to continue the dialogue: "What specific time constraints do you feel are most pressing when it comes to implementing this coaching model?"

By creating a space for these crucial conversations, I will ensure that all perspectives are considered, and that the implementation of the Online Blended Coaching Strategy can move forward with the support and cooperation of those involved.

As I lead the shift toward Online Blended Coaching at elementary campuses, crucial conversations will help me address challenges head-on. Whether it’s concerns about time, resource allocation, or the change in teaching methods, mastering these conversations will enable me to shorten the time between when I see a concern and when we talk about the concern.  Having crucial conversations early on will enable me to:

• Build trust and alignment among stakeholders, ensuring we are all on the same page.

• Mitigate resistance by making space for honest dialogue and co-creating solutions to time constraints.

• Advance organizational change through clear, calm, and focused communication, helping me to implement the strategy successfully while maintaining buy-in from teachers and administrators.

Crucial conversations are integral to becoming a self-differentiated leader.  These conversations will not only help me navigate the natural resistance to change but also ensure that the approach is collaborative, inclusive, and solution-oriented key components for successful organizational change.

4 Disciplines of Execution & 6 Sources of Influence