How to Maintain Professionalism in Challenging Situations

In this episode, we discuss how to maintain your professionalism when faced with tough moments in the classroom. Everyone loses their cool now and then, but it’s how we handle these situations that truly shapes our teaching environment.

Early in my career, I learned a costly lesson about controlling my reactions and to this day serves as an important reminder that our reactions have consequences.

Learn about:

• Identifying your triggers: Reflecting on this incident has made me realize the importance of recognizing personal triggers and stress points to better manage reactions and maintain a professional environment.
• Choosing your techniques to calm down: Discusses practical techniques for staying calm in the heat of the moment, such as deep breathing, stepping away briefly, and practicing mindfulness to build resilience over time.
• Responding Professionally: Offers strategies for handling confrontations professionally once you’ve managed to calm down, including using neutral language and scheduling follow-up discussions to thoroughly address important issues.
• Reflection and Feedback: Emphasizes the importance of reflecting on challenging interactions and seeking feedback to continually grow as an educator.
• Importance of Apologies: Discusses the power of apologizing and showing vulnerability, which can rebuild trust and demonstrate accountability.
• Golden Rule: Concludes with a reminder of the golden rule—treat others as you would like to be treated—which underpins the importance of maintaining professionalism and respect in all interactions.

Navigating challenging situations with professionalism not only helps us manage immediate challenges but also sets a positive standard for behavior in our educational environments.

 Remember to download the free "Courageous Conversation Sentence Starters" to enhance your ability to handle difficult conversations effectively.

• Get your free "Courageous Conversation Sentence Starters" here: spedprepacademy.com/conversations

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Chapters

• 0:00 Maintaining Professionalism in Challenging Situations
• 8:07 Maintaining Professionalism Under Pressure

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:59

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it was almost impossible to keep your cool? Or maybe you have completely flown off the handle and lost all resemblance of professionalism at some point in your career. How did you handle it and what did you wish you knew at that moment to maintain your professionalism? We've all been there and today we're going to explore how to handle these tough moments with grace and professionalism.

Speaker 2: 1:21

You're listening to the Sped Prep Academy podcast. Your host, jennifer Hoferberg, is an award-winning veteran special educator who shares her experience, knowledge and passion to help other special educators survive and thrive in this profession. Join her and other guests as they share tips and tricks of the trade for the ever-crazy, completely overwhelming, laugh-so-you-don don't cry profession of being a special education teacher.

Speaker 1: 1:47

So I want to share a story. Many years ago, when I was still early in my career, I worked with a fourth grade boy who exhibited particularly challenging behaviors. One day, during a lesson that admittedly wasn't going as planned, he became very upset and, to make a long story short, materials were torn up, a table was flipped over, chairs went flying and so did tempers, mine included. It was one of those moments where every eye in the room was suddenly on me, waiting to see how I would handle the situation. My initial instinct was to raise my voice, to regain control, to demand that he pick up what he had destroyed, and unfortunately I went with that initial reaction. I raised my voice, my words were firmer and louder than I had intended, the room went silent and I could see the impact immediately, not just on him but on the entire class. It was a heartbreaking reminder that our first impulses aren't always the best ones, especially in a classroom setting where every action we take sets a tone for our students. In my defense, at that time I lacked the experience and the skills and the reserve I have developed today. Back then, it was easy for my emotions to get the better of me in tense situations. Today, I approach these challenges with a calm demeanor and a composed mindset, understanding that reacting out of emotion rarely, if ever, results in a positive outcome.

Speaker 1: 3:15

I have reflected on that scenario over and over again throughout my career, wishing that I could just hit the rewind button and do things differently After that day. My relationship with that little guy was never the same. He faced many challenges in his life and unfortunately, he lost trust in me. I was just another adult who had let him down as a result of my reactions. I missed the crucial opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with him, and that haunts me today. But there was something good that came out of it. I realized how important it is to recognize our emotional triggers and our stress points, and I vowed to never have that type of interaction with a child again. It wasn't about managing the student's behavior, but instead it was about managing my own reactions to maintain a professional, supportive environment. If I had had better skills to help me navigate a situation like that one, I know in my heart the outcome would have been different. This experience led me to explore and identify my own stress points more deeply, which has been incredibly helpful in similar situations, since it's also one of the reasons I created the resource how to have Courageous Conversations Sentence Starters Knowing how to start a difficult verbal interaction with students, your staff colleagues, parents and administrators can be extremely beneficial.

Speaker 1: 4:40

This resource is a strategy for staying composed, and it ensures that you can handle these conversations with professionalism and care. And I'd love to give you these sentence starters to help you handle difficult conversations more effectively. Just go to spadprepacademycom. Slash conversations and I'll leave that link in the show notes as well. So how about you? What challenges have you had in your teaching experience? What were your triggers and how did you handle them?

Speaker 1: 5:07

Recognizing these can be the first step in better managing our responses and maintaining our professionalism, no matter the stress that we face. Often, it's the smallest triggers that can lead to the biggest reactions, especially when we are under pressure or we feel threatened or challenged. Recognizing what sets us off is the first step to managing our responses effectively. So think about what triggers you. When have you been your maddest? What things really just push your buttons? Reflecting on this can help you control your reactions and help you make a plan for how you're going to react, instead of flying off the handle when it comes to staying calm in the heat of the moment. There are several techniques that can be incredibly helpful. Something as simple as deep breathing, pausing to count to 10, or even stepping out of the room briefly can make a significant difference. I've even had to step away from my keyboard a time or two to cool off before sending an email. It's all about finding that moment to regroup so you can respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, and I truly believe that practicing mindfulness regularly doesn't just help in the heat of the moment. It builds our resilience over time, making us less likely to be overwhelmed by stress. So once you've calmed down, your heart rate is back to normal. The pit in your stomach has subdued a little bit down. Your heart rate is back to normal. The pit in your stomach has subdued a little bit. Then it will be time to respond to challenging situations, and you'll be in a better frame of mind to be able to respond professionally.

Speaker 1: 6:37

Maintaining a level of decorum that reflects your role as an educator is crucial. This might mean using neutral language, keeping your tone even and addressing issues directly and constructively. For instance, if a conversation with a parent or another teacher starts to escalate, you might say something like I understand. This is a very important issue for both of us. Let's schedule a time to sit down with all the necessary information so we can address it thoroughly. But let's face it, we are all human and we all make mistakes. So if you do happen to respond in a not-so-professional kind of way or you lose your temper and say something you regret later, remember it's not the end of the world. It is an opportunity to learn and to grow.

Speaker 1: 7:22

After a tough interaction, take some time to reflect on what went well and what could have been handled a little bit differently. This reflection is crucial for continuous professional development. And don't forget, it is perfectly okay to seek feedback. Discussing these situations with a mentor or a colleague can offer new perspectives and strategies and enhance your ability to handle similar challenges in the future. And never, ever underestimate the power of an apology. Kids are very forgiving and when you admit that the way you handled something wasn't acceptable, you're not only giving them the opportunity to forgive you and build that trust back. You are also showing them that everyone makes mistakes and how to take ownership of that mistake.

Speaker 1: 8:08

And lastly, I want you to remember as you navigate these situations, it's important to understand that your ability to maintain professionalism under pressure not only helps us manage our immediate challenges, but it also shapes the overall environment for our colleagues. So let's review. When you are able to identify your triggers, implement techniques to help you stay calm, respond professionally and reflect on your actions, you will undoubtedly set a standard for behavior and interaction that can create a more positive, effective learning and working environment for everyone. This approach aligns so well with the golden rule treat others as you would like to be treated. By embodying this principle, you demonstrate respect and empathy, which, in turn, fosters a supportive and respectful atmosphere. So don't forget to download the free Courageous Conversation sentence starters by clicking the link in the show notes, and I'll talk to you next week.