Course Description
God works through leaders to develop the kind of fruitful unity that he desires for mankind, both in and outside of formal Church settings. While establishing a healthy and harmonious culture naturally facilitates this kind of efficient unity and is the primary calling of the leader, there are sure to be setbacks. One of the biggest challenges leaders face is holding people accountable when their actions do not meet the established standard. This course covers why some conversations are difficult, how personality affects them, and provides practical scripts and exercises that will make potentially difficult conversations easier for leaders of all types. Special attention will be given to a subset of such conversations that need to be handled differently: those with people with especially difficult personality types, such as narcissists.
We do not live alone. Our world is full of a variety of cultures and contexts, and it is important to be able to work, live, and exhibit Christlikeness with those who are both similar and different from us.
As you progress through your journey in Kairos, you will know you have completed this outcome when you and your mentor team have determined that you demonstrate emotional intelligence in personal and organizational settings, the ability to work with diverse groups of people in a cooperative fashion, and an awareness and understanding of cultures other than your own.
While progressing toward the goal of this outcome, you will typically:
1. Discern critical appreciation for those different from you;
2. Distinguish the communication strategies that are appropriate for individuals both inside and outside of your community of faith;
3. Develop ways to communicate the Bible and theology in a vocational context.
Areas of Focus: In this outcome, you will focus on…
1. Content related to how working with others is understood in your tradition, context, and vocation. Often students discover new vocabulary and frameworks concerning contextual awareness and competency and encounter traditions and contexts other than their own;
2. Character related to the markers of exemplary character in your context and vocation, humility in your practice, your posture when engaging with the other, and valuing the ways in which you can learn from and trust the other;
3. Craft related to demonstrating the markers of competence in your context and vocation in such a way that encourages trust among your peers and seeks to learn from those around you.
Indicators: An individual proficient in Understanding and Working with Others…
1. Demonstrates critical appreciation for those different from oneself.
2. Demonstrates the ability to communicate the Bible and theology in a vocational context.
3.Is able to distinguish communication strategies that are appropriate for individuals both inside and outside of one’s community of faith.
Required Text
Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Shiela Heen. Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most.
Recommended Texts
Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. The New One Minute Manager.
Lloyd G. Rediger. Clergy Killers: Guidance for Pastors and Congregations Under Attack.
Course Requirements
Participation. Students are expected to attend all Zoom meetings, be on time at the beginning of class, and stay for the duration of the class. Furthermore, students should come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings for the class.
Papers. Students will respond to three writing prompts, due at the end of each of the third, fourth, and fifth sessions. Prompts for these are posted on the course page on LearnDash. The students will also prepare an outline summary of the major points from the readings, lectures, and discussions for the sixth session. All of these assignments will be uploaded by the student to LearnDash. While these assignments will not be graded, they will prepare the students for the oral exam at the end of the course. The grade earned at this exam will serve as the final grade for the course.
Final Grade. The student’s final grade will be determined by their performance on the oral exam. It takes place during the eighth week of the course.
Schedule (Zoom Link)
- 2/17/2026. Background Reading.
Skim the assigned and suggested readings. - 3/3/2026. Normal Leadership and Accountability.
In this module, we will discuss the practical techniques that facilitate healthy relationships of accountability for most people, most of the time. Covers optional reading, The One Minute Manager. - 3/10/2026. The Three Conversations.
In this module, we will discuss what makes some conversations stressful by looking at what is going on behind the words that are exchanged. Covers “The Problem” of Difficult Conversations. Writing prompt one is due. - 3/17/2026. Create a Learning Conversation.
In this module, we will cover the attributes that can make potentially difficult conversations productive and less-stressful. Covers “Create a Learning Conversation” of Difficult Conversations. Writing prompt two is due. - 3/24/2026. Looking at Potential Exceptions.
In this module, we discuss some of the objections people have had to the “learning conversation” approach, add our own, and determine what modifications are necessary. Covers “Ten Questions…” of Difficult Conversations. Writing prompt three is due. - 3/31/2026. Dealing with Especially Hard Cases.
In this module, we talk about how to identify especially difficult personality types and why they require a special approach. Covers optional reading; Clergy Killers: Guidance for Pastors and Congregations Under Attack. Writing prompt four is due. - 4/14/2026. Draft Outline Due.
Students will present an overview of their outlines for feedback. This will work on two levels: one is that it will help students prepare for their final outline and help them prepare for their oral exam; the second is that it will be a test of how well they have internalized the course’s lessons, as hearing critiques often turns into a difficult conversation. - Week of 4/21/2026. Oral Exam.
Students will take their oral exam for their final grade. Students may schedule individual practice sessions with Fr. Anthony.
General Information
Attendance Policy. As participation is a key component of this course, students are allowed up to one unexcused absence. Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, and religious holy days. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness. Please send an email to the instructor concerning the reason for your absence within three days of the absence so that you are not accidentally penalized.
Professionalism. Professional conduct is expected at all times. This includes communication via email with your instructor and your classmates, and communication on the class website. Our classroom should be a place where people feel safe sharing opinions and ideas.
Religious Holidays Policy. St. Athanasius College will provide reasonable accommodations to students who request to be excused from class to observe a religious holy day of their faith. Students will make the request in writing to their instructor, preferably upon receipt of the course syllabus, but not later than two weeks before the holy observance. Note that such an accommodation may not be possible when the religious holy day conflicts with group work or experiential learning projects that cannot reasonably be rescheduled; therefore, students should avoid potential conflicts when scheduling courses. While excused students will be held responsible for the material covered in their absence, they shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the work missed. Instructors and administrators shall not penalize students who are absent from academic activities because of excused religious holy day observance. This policy applies to all St. Athanasius College courses, regardless of location or mode of delivery. Be sure to use respectful language when disagreeing. If you have a concern with the course, please send a thoughtful email to me outlining your concern.
Student Disability Accommodations. St. Athanasius College provides reasonable accommodations or modifications in adherence with local, state, and federal law. To receive accommodations through St. Athanasius College, students must self-elect to disclose their disability to the Office of the Dean and follow the steps to receive accommodations. Accommodations are not retroactive. Approved accommodation requests submitted after courses have begun will be effective as of the date the completed request was received by the Office of the Dean. To complete an Accommodation Request, students can access the form online at the school’s website. If the student has an issue accessing the form for any reason please contact the Office of the Dean. In addition to the Accommodation Request, students should email appropriate documentation to the Office of the Dean.
Syllabus Change Policy. Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.
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