Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit digiCOACH.com, mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing.

In this solo episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard takes leaders deep into one of the most important—and most avoided—responsibilities of leadership: crucial conversations.

Darrin shares a vulnerable story from early in his principalship and unpacks the powerful lesson he learned about how silence, avoidance, and hesitation can erode culture, damage trust, and create uncertainty. From there, he introduces a clear, actionable, eight-step framework rooted in the work of Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler’s Crucial Conversations, adapted for leaders in every sector.

Listeners will learn how to:

• Center themselves before delivering hard messages
• Remove assumptions and stay grounded in facts
• Create psychological safety
• Describe performance gaps clearly and respectfully
• Invite honest dialogue
• Collaboratively build solutions
• Reinforce alignment through clear commitments
• Sustain accountability through effective follow-up

Darrin then applies the framework to three real-world leadership scenarios—from education, construction, and healthcare—providing detailed sample dialogue and leadership moves leaders can use immediately.

Whether you’re leading a school, a team, a department, or an organization, this episode will equip you with the clarity, confidence, and courage to navigate the tough moments that shape culture.

• Why tough conversations define leadership effectiveness
• What makes a conversation “crucial”
• The 8-step Crucial Conversations Leadership Framework
• How to avoid assumptions and approach conversations with purpose
• How to balance accountability with empathy
• How leaders across industries can apply these steps (with detailed examples)

1. Education — Staff not following safety protocols
2. Construction — Crew leader disrespecting team members
3. Healthcare — Nurse omitting required patient handoff details

These examples model exactly what effective leadership conversations sound like.

• The AWESOME Leadership Action Guide
• Leadership keynote information go to https://darrinpeppard.com
• Connect with Darrin on LinkedIn, Instagram, and social platforms