Crucial Conversations

In the summer of 2024, faculty and staff read “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High.” The book, recommended by Steward’s strategic plan committee on civil discourse, offers tools for navigating important conversations. Early this fall, faculty and staff gathered in the Lora M. Robins Theatre for a workshop led by J. Lynn Jones, a master trainer for Crucial Learning, the book’s corresponding training organization.

An engaging speaker, Mr. Jones advised faculty and staff to “start with heart” when embarking on potentially stressful conversations. “Focus on what you really want,” he said, and stressed the importance of seeking mutual purpose in one’s personal and professional conversations. 

Following his talk, faculty and staff participated in breakout sessions led by Steward’s “Crucial Conversations” trainers Robbin Hataway, Kendall Hrabek ’04, Karen Hudson, and Danny Spiziri. The four were the first faculty members trained in both the “Crucial Conversations” methodology and as trainers. The goal is for all faculty to be fully trained by the end of the 2025-26 school year. In October, the first 15 faculty were trained. Civil Discourse is one of Steward’s core values, and ensuring these skills among our community will enable faculty to integrate the “Crucial Conversations” principles into their classrooms. 

We are grateful to the members of the Foundation Board of Directors, whose generosity made this training possible.