Top tips to transform problem-solving conversations
By Dr Jacqui Patuawa on October 9, 2024 in Leadership
Although leaders advocate for high-quality conversations, research shows that despite their best intentions, their approach to conversations may be undermining their quest to improve student achievement.
Middle leaders, in particular, are faced with a unique challenge. Balancing the responsibility of classroom teaching and leading their teams to affect change comes with the added challenge of navigating the tension between advocating for the senior leaders’ improvement agenda and representing their teams’ perceptions of what is and is not working. Striking this balance is tricky, and often, middle leaders default to protecting the adult relationships. In such situations, student learning is often unintentionally compromised.
What if there was a way to do both?
My recent study and my Faculty of Education and Social Work colleagues at Auckland University highlight the importance of bridging this gap through effective collaborative complex problem-solving that will improve student outcomes.
Transform your collaborative problem-solving conversations with these practical tips and insights.
The power of collaborative problem-solving
Middle leaders play a vital role in addressing underachievement. However, research shows that equity in student achievement is compromised because conversations with other teachers tend to be infrequent, informal, and not as effective as they need to be.
Many middle leaders struggle to balance these two critical aspects of collaborative problem-solving:
Social skills: building trust through transparent and respectful communication.
Cognitive skills: identifying and analysing the nature of a problem and finding effective solutions.
The anatomy of effective problem-solving conversations
In this study, three main areas were evaluated to identify why problem-solving conversations between middle leaders and teachers are often missing the mark.
Identifying the problem: Leaders often struggled to clearly define and communicate the nature of the student achievement problems. They typically initiated conversations with general questions rather than direct discussions about the specific issue.
Identifying the cause: Middle leaders rarely engaged in meaningful discussions about the causes of underachievement. Instead, they focused on finding quick fixes, often attributing problems to external factors like lack of home support, rather than exploring instructional or systemic issues.
Problem solutions: When solutions were discussed, they were frequently based on past experience or intuition rather than a thorough analysis of the problem. Leaders often failed to critically evaluate whether proposed interventions were aligned with the underlying causes of the students' struggles.
3 tips for effective problem-solving skills
To effectively address inequity and underachievement, middle leaders need to develop the following strategies that will strengthen their collaborative problem-solving skills.
Build trust: Establish an environment where both leaders and teachers can openly discuss challenges without fear of conflict. Transparent and respectful communication is key to building the trust necessary for tackling difficult instructional issues.
Engage in deep causal inquiry: Move beyond surface-level explanations and take time to explore the root causes of underachievement. This may involve analysing instructional practices, curriculum alignment, or assessment strategies to ensure they meet the needs of struggling students.
Use data to inform solutions: Rely on student performance data and evidence-based teaching practices when designing interventions. Avoid quick fixes and ensure that solutions are directly tied to the causes of the problem.
Empowering middle leaders to lead change
With the right support and professional development, middle leaders can become powerful agents of change in addressing the persistent challenges of inequity and underachievement in our schools.
If you're a middle leader looking to enhance your problem-solving capabilities or a school leader eager to support your team, book a consultation here.
Together, we can work towards reducing inequity and improving student outcomes.
To learn more get in touch with Dr Jacqui today
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