On-Demand
Session
Empowering educators to joyfully fulfill their God-given calling
Before You Speak: Navigating Hard Conversations with Courage & Compassion
with Jessica Cabeen of Christian Educators
As Christian educators, we are often called to courageous and sometimes difficult conversations with colleagues, students, and parents. But how do we engage in these moments with truth and grace? How do we align our words with our witness? This session offers faith-based principles to help you approach correction with humility and empathy, differentiate behavior from identity, and align your leadership actions with God’s Word.
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About Jessica Cabeen
Jessica is a dynamic speaker known for her work in unconventional leadership, innovative learning environments, early learning, and educator self-care. As the voice behind Christian Educators’ "Ask a Principal Anything" blog, she draws from diverse PreK–12 leadership experience to share practical, research-based strategies. Her authentic style, relatable stories, and humor resonate with educators worldwide.
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*Comments may be used as testimonials.
Jessica, I had no temptation to leave your session. You’re a great teacher as well as administrator. Thanks for reviewing the heart of the scripture as you covered each section. I’ve got to get a mirror for my desk!
Loaded with great info! Loved the idea of having a word wall to help with the conversation and thinking about being on the receiving end of the conversation. I also loved the questions to ask yourself – what’s my goal, being emotionally centered and what part could I be missing? So many other great nuggets as well. Thank you for sharing a personal experience!
I love James 1:19! Speak with Grace, Listen with Care, and let Jesus lead the outcome.
Key takeaways for me: James 1:19, Regulate myself before having a difficult conversation, focus on restoration, not correction. And our words hold so much power!
Oh my, this session has hit home. I internalize many of my conversations so many times. I love the ideas of pruning and regulating to be ready to respond. This is a session I will come back and relisten to several times.
This was a good one! We all need to remember what Jess shared at the end, speak with grace, listen with care, and let Jesus lead the way. I liked her idea of a word wall for tough conversations. I also find in helpful for me to pray before tough conversations or meetings. She spoke truth about leading with your heart, emotionally regulating, and a community of people is important. My mantra is people need people and together we are better. Thanks Jess for sharing steps and being vulnerable as we all make mistakes which do not define who we are. I appreciated your insights to also support others.
Helpful session on how to approach tough conversations. I appreciated how she talked through our physical responses to emails we are dreading, and mentioned some ways to respond and recover from hard conversations.
Love that the key verse was James 1:19! So helpful when I respond or look at future conversations.
Having been in leadership for so long, I resonate so much with this conversation. Lot’s of good advice and practical tips. The better you know yourself, how you process and how you are perceived is so important (self-awareness). Having people around you to support you and be honest with you is key too because navigating difficult conversations is just hard! So thankful for the spiritual foundation emphasized in this presentation. Thank you!
Jackie!! Thank you for blessing me with these words. Grateful for this feedback and the work you are doing!
This work is hard—but leading with Christ at the center is our commission.
Jessica’s message was a powerful reminder that hard conversations are both a calling and a commission for Christian leaders. Leading with truth and grace requires us to slow down—to listen first, speak wisely, and manage emotions with humility and faith. When we center Christ in our communication, our words become tools for restoration, not correction, and we reflect His love even in the hardest moments.
I loved her quote, “Starting with a mirror changes the tone of the conversation. It moves us from reaction to reflection—and that’s where the growth begins.”
Jen, thank you for sharing your feedback and how this can be used as leaders. All the best for you this year!
I really liked the prompt to start with a mirror when preparing for a challenging conversation. I also really like the “ what would grace-filled courage look like?”
Nicole! Thank you for continuing to be a light to others.
I appreciate the presenter’s transparency! I have these take-aways from this session. Tone Sets Temperature. I will use the word wall myself. Pruning to grow and not punish is a great tip. I want to develop my own coping skills to regulate before a response.
Susan, I am still learning how to develop skills and grateful that I am not the only one working towards these leadership skills. Thank you for your participation!
I am on Fall Break and will have a tough conversation when I return. Several takeaways=1. Lead with grace 2. Tone sets the temperature 3. Pursue with peace and let it lead. 4. Am I listening? 5. Regulate myself to be ready to respond – walk, pray.
Jennifer-praying for your future conversation-here if you need anything.
Remembering to make sure they feel seen, heard, and valued. “Lead in a way that reflects the One who first loved you.” is the whole goal.
Amen. Thank you for your reflection of the session. Hope the rest of your year is filled with Joy.
Wonderful tips on how to approach difficult conversations. I appreciate the self-reflection questions: What’s my true goal here? Am I emotionally centered? What part might I be missing? Very helpful! I also learned how to assess if I am really ready to listen. Thank you for such helpful information!
Ashley-you are so welcome! Thank you for the feedback and how the questions resonate. EnJOY the rest of your year!
This was a great session. Thank you for the reminder to let Jesus lead the outcome.
Terri-thank you for watching. Praying for a wonderful rest of the school year.
“Speak with grace. Listen with care. Let Jesus lead the outcome.” I love this thought. We are responsible for the first two things, and with the Holy Spirit, we can be empowered to do so, but it ultimately is God who will direct the outcome of any conversation centered in Him. Thank you for these wise words and reminders.
Brittany-grateful for your feedback and investment in this work. Praying for a wonderful rest of the school year.
Tone sets the temperature! Wow!! I have a tendency to speak in a tone that sometimes come across as harsh and I don’t mean for it to. I love the idea of practicing with a trusted friend/co-worker.
Self-regulating is essential to faith formation!! I forget to slow down. It’s not an easy thing to do and can make me feel guilty. It is something to put into practice so that I can be calm and have my emotions under control.
Star-grateful I am not the only one that is working towards self-regulation. Here if you need anything.
I needed this today, with an unanswered email in my inbox from a frustrated parent! I appreciated digging into James 1:19 with the specific questions she asked. “What’s my true goal here?” was a good reminder that we always have to consider if we’re seeking our own glory over God’s.
Suzanne so glad this is helping you!
Prune to Grow- pruning is not a fun situation so the only way to appreciate it is keep your mind on growth! without judgement.
Am I ready to listen?
This is really a great session to build reminders for communicating with my spouse- I’m not always ready to listen- ugh, Practicing the God’s love way produces more fruit.
Michel-I am right there with you!!! So grateful this session resonated with you
This was a fantastic session! The section about self-reflection before correction and the thought-provoking questions that followed were such a help to me both personally and professionally. Thank you for such wise words!
Katelynn-you are so welcome! Blessings on your year!
Oh my goodness, thank you for the conversational style and the probing questions that brought reflection about leadership and our humanness with God. This was food for my soul.
Patricia-what an endorsement!!! Thank you for your insight, ideas and the work you do in your classroom.
Pause. Err on the side of Grace. Unity over Division. Such wise and godly advice.
Thanks for your engagement Diana-appreciate you!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and practical presentation. Just taking the time to write down what actually happened can bring so much perspective. Like you said, “Oh, this is bigger than I thought. Or…oh, this is not nearly as big as I thought.”
Melanie-I am grateful you took the time to post this reflection-this work is hard and worth it.
Jessica thank you for such practical steps using biblical truth to help with hard conversations. I liked the part of reflecting and those reflection questions instead of reacting. Thanks for sharing.
Scott-thank you for this feedback and glad it is helpful!
Jessica, what a helpful session. As you went through the parts of that verse (Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry) I was reflecting on how I handled a recent conflict. I wish I would have heard your talk beforehand. Pausing, and resisting the urge to shoot from the hip in a reactive way was really wise council. And, I was never tempted to check out and leave the session. 🙂 You are a very engaging presenter and the session went by very quickly. Thanks for sharing you insights.
Mike-grateful for your reflection and feedback my friend!