A principal I work with is dealing with a strange new "Union issue."

Her teachers feel like they are being forced to make phone calls home.

They argue they don't have the time. They say email is faster.

But the truth?

They are scared.

They are terrified of the conflict. They don't know what to say to an angry parent. They are hiding behind their screens because it feels safer.

So they send an email to "check the box".

But it’s too bad you cannot email your way out of a conflict.

An email is passive. It’s information, not communication.

And when you avoid the human element, you actually create more work.

I told this principal: "I'm sorry we're asking you to make a phone call. But in four weeks, when that parent is furious and demands a meeting that takes an hour, you're going to wish you had spent the 30 seconds on the phone today".

How does this apply to your culture?

If your staff is avoiding hard conversations, your culture is leaking trust.

We have to teach our teams (and sometimes ourselves) to "grow up" and have the dialogue.

It’s about giving them the scripts, the support, and the courage to engage with human beings rather than just transacting with them.

If you want to build a culture where people run toward problems instead of hiding from them...

Then you need to be in a room with other leaders who are doing the same work.

In The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™, we practice these hard conversations. We share the scripts. We help you build the confidence to lead fearlessly.

Keep Making a Ruckus,

Danny