Lesson Objectives

By the end of this newsletter, you'll be able to:

• Use AI to prepare for challenging conversations with parents, staff, or administrators

• Anticipate potential concerns and craft empathetic responses before they arise

• Apply digital "room reading" techniques to improve your communication effectiveness

Do Now

Before we get started, take a moment to think about the last difficult conversation you had to navigate. Maybe it was a parent who was upset about their child's grades, a staff meeting where budget cuts were announced, or an IEP meeting where emotions ran high. How did it go? What would you have done differently if you could have anticipated the concerns beforehand?

What We’re Working with Today

Today we'll explore how AI can become your secret weapon for reading the room before you even enter it. Just like watching a skilled leader navigate tough conversations with grace and empathy, we can use AI to develop that same level of preparation and emotional intelligence in our own challenging discussions.

I Do, We Do, You Do

I Do: Here’s What I Created

I’m going to be very transparent with you: this week was rough. Having to go back to my day job after what felt like too short of a break off and stepping directly into the reality of budget cuts and role eliminations was stressful. I kept working on my projects after work because that’s what truly brings me joy, but the time available to dedicate to them is so much less now.

This is why this newsletter didn’t arrive at your inbox early this morning. I was so behind that I forgot to schedule it last night. But that fits perfectly into this week’s discussion and the inspiration I pulled from listening to our new superintendent speak at our leadership retreat.

On Friday, I watched our new superintendent handle a room full of anxious administrators discussing budget cuts. What struck me wasn't just what he said, but how he had clearly anticipated every concern, every emotion, and every question before they were even voiced. He read the room perfectly.

It got me thinking: what if we could use AI to develop that same level of preparation?

Tools I used: Claude, and a healthy dose of reflection on what makes some leaders’ energy just feel so comforting

We Do: Let’s Build This Together

Follow this step-by-step guide to prepare for any difficult conversation:

1. Map the Emotional Landscape Before your meeting, use this AI prompt to anticipate the emotional climate:

I'm preparing for a [type of meeting: parent conference/IEP meeting/staff meeting] about [brief topic]. The key participants will be [list participants and their roles]. Given the topic and stakeholders involved, help me anticipate:

1. What emotions might each participant be feeling?
2. What are their likely primary concerns?
3. What questions or objections might arise?
4. What would success look like from each person's perspective?

Please provide this analysis in a format that helps me prepare empathetic responses.

2. Craft Your Empathetic Response Arsenal Use this prompt to develop language that acknowledges concerns while moving toward solutions:

Based on the concerns you identified, help me craft 3-5 empathetic response templates that:

1. Acknowledge the emotion behind the concern
2. Validate their perspective
3. Bridge to a collaborative solution
4. Maintain professional boundaries

Format these as: "I can see that [emotion/concern]. What I hear you saying is [validation]. Let's work together to [collaborative next step]."

Make these sound natural and conversational, not scripted.

3. Plan Your Conversation Flow Ask AI to help you structure the meeting: "Given this situation, what would be an effective conversation flow that allows everyone to feel heard while keeping us focused on solutions?"

4. Prepare for Curveballs Finally, ask: "What's the one thing I haven't thought of that could derail this conversation, and how should I prepare for it?"

**Here’s a tip: If you have a paid ChatGPT or Claude account, start collecting your strong written responses and save them as ‘project knowledge,’ documents you can upload to a custom GPT or Claude project (I recommend Claude for this, it’s a stronger writer in my opinion). Then, each time you draft out written communication, have the LLM use that project knowledge to understand your tone, writing style, etc. so that it writes in your voice.

You Do: Your Mini Task for the Week

Now it's your turn! Pick one upcoming conversation that you're dreading (we all have one). Use the prompts above to prepare for it. Notice how much more confident you feel when you've anticipated the emotional landscape ahead of time.

Think-Pair-Share

• Think of 3 situations where better "room reading" would have changed the outcome of a difficult conversation

• Pair up with a colleague to practice using these AI preparation techniques together

• Share your experiences with our community of educators and connect with other Edumators who are transforming their classrooms with AI and automation.

Exit Ticket

Are you an SLP or SPED teacher that wants to customize AAC icons? Check out AAC Icon Studio. Generate 5 icons for free to test it out.

Looking for a live hands-on course on AI and Automation? Our first cohort ran in March. Join the AI & Automation for Educators Course Waitlist to be informed about future sessions!

Follow us for more AI and automation tips.

Ready to explore automation and take control of your processes? Join the FREE 30-Day AI & Automation Email Course for Educators to learn how to build solutions tailored to your needs.

Follow us on Gumroad for Edumated resources.

Spread the Word!

If you found today’s edition helpful, share the Edumated newsletter with your colleagues! You can share our link: www.edumated.com.