Research demonstrates that school leaders spend two-thirds to three-quarters of their day talking. One might say they literally talk their walk. But how are they doing? Is their intended message conveyed? Is everyone on the same page? Are they listening as well as they are speaking? What is the consequence of a difficult conversation not held or not held well? If ever there were such a thing as a collaboration supercharger, learning to improve communication by holding better conversations would be it. The good news is that public-school professionals are increasingly using research-based tools and strategies of dialogue to improve culture, motivate people, and build high-performing teams in their schools, districts, and communities. In this session, you will learn how to use a model proven to be successful in building speaking and listening skills, especially for when the stakes are high, emotions simmering, and opposition inevitable. As a special form of communication, effective dialogue enhances collaboration at every level, from boardroom to classroom, inspiring its users to continuous improvement. In addition to presenting communication tools and strategies, this session features the example of how leaders in one North Carolina public-school district used dialogue to tell their story and create a culture of collaboration where all voices are honored. Participants will leave not only with a set of skills but with applied evidence of how they work in the real world. Presenters: Steven Bingham, Denise Fallon