“Conversations are messy, and that's okay." - Kel Innis

In this episode of the School of Wellbeing podcast, Meg Durham sits down with primary school principal Kel Innis for an honest and practical conversation about the moments in school life that many of us try to avoid. Together they explore the reality of important conversations, the emotions that arise and the skills that help us approach these moments with more care and confidence.

You will hear them unpack the timing of conversations, the role of emotional intelligence and the importance of pausing before responding. Kel shares how she prepares herself for important conversations, how she stays steady in the moment and why following up afterwards is essential for building trust. This episode will support you to strengthen your communication, build connection and create a school culture where staff, students and families feel seen, heard and respected.

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Chapter Markers:

01:30 The tension of conversations we cannot avoid
05:45 Kel’s early leadership experiences and what has changed
11:10 Planned and spontaneous conversations
16:00 Balancing care and professionalism
22:30 Emotional intelligence in challenging moments
28:55 The role of transparency in leadership
34:40 Moving from avoidance to approaching
41:05 Repairing after missteps
47:20 Creating a culture of clear and compassionate communication
52:10 Final reflections

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Deliberate Actions:

Identify one conversation you have been avoiding and write down why it matters.
Prepare yourself by choosing the right time, place and purpose for the conversation.
Pause before responding so you can stay steady and speak with clarity.

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Episode 158 Shownotes - Click here.

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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **

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