http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin474.shtml
A great article which details several strategies for dealing with conflict management and difficult parents. Some key components to the article are:
Listening Is Key Put Yourself in the Parents Shoes More Calming Techniques Strong School Communities = Fewer Angry Parents Finding Solutions That Work The Principal as First Resort, Last Resort Secretaries: The First Line of Defense Quick Responses Are Best Principal-Suggested Resources - See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin474.shtml#sthash.KIy4y1Ab.dpuf
A great article which details several strategies for dealing with conflict management and difficult parents. Some key components to the article are:
Listening Is Key
Dealing with Aggressive parents
http://www.theballbook.com/handouts2013/DealingwithDifficultParents.pdf
A Great series of articles based upon Todd Whittaker's experience with 'difficult parents' Some great components include:
“You do not have to prove who is in charge; everybody knows who is in charge."
Effective principals never argue, yell, use sarcasm, orbehave unprofessionally. The key word in that sentence is never. There are several reasons to adopt this credo. One of them is that in every situation there needs to be at least one adult,and the only person you can rely on to act as the adult is you. I also believe that it isn’t a good idea to argue with difficult people. You will not win. Difficult people may argue a great deal of time in every aspect of their lives. They argue at home, are confrontational at work, and probably have a great number of tense conversations on a regular basis.
There is an old saying that the best way to have the last word is to apologize. This saying may be most applicable and effective in working with difficult parents. I have foundt hat one of the best defusers in any situation is to apologize.However, the specific wording is important because it can help us calm the waters and yet retain our dignity. It is very difficult to say, “I was wrong.” It is even more difficul tto say when it is not true. But there is one way we can approach all situations that will help satisfy even the most aggressive parents while allowing us to be honest, and that is to say, “I am sorry that happened.” This phrase is applicablin myriad situations. It is essential to adopt a sympathetic tone and manner when using this technique.Rudeness, arrogance, impatience, or sarcasm makes a bad situation worse
A Great series of articles based upon Todd Whittaker's experience with 'difficult parents' Some great components include:
“You do not have to prove who is in charge; everybody knows who is in charge."
Effective principals never argue, yell, use sarcasm, orbehave unprofessionally. The key word in that sentence is never. There are several reasons to adopt this credo. One of them is that in every situation there needs to be at least one adult,and the only person you can rely on to act as the adult is you. I also believe that it isn’t a good idea to argue with difficult people. You will not win. Difficult people may argue a great deal of time in every aspect of their lives. They argue at home, are confrontational at work, and probably have a great number of tense conversations on a regular basis.
There is an old saying that the best way to have the last word is to apologize. This saying may be most applicable and effective in working with difficult parents. I have foundt hat one of the best defusers in any situation is to apologize.However, the specific wording is important because it can help us calm the waters and yet retain our dignity. It is very difficult to say, “I was wrong.” It is even more difficul tto say when it is not true. But there is one way we can approach all situations that will help satisfy even the most aggressive parents while allowing us to be honest, and that is to say, “I am sorry that happened.” This phrase is applicablin myriad situations. It is essential to adopt a sympathetic tone and manner when using this technique.Rudeness, arrogance, impatience, or sarcasm makes a bad situation worse