How to approach a difficult conversation with another governor

Find out what to do before, during and after a difficult conversation with a governor, so you feel confident resolving issues with your governing board.

Last reviewed on 1 April 2025
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 4527
Contents
  1. Before: how to prepare for the conversation
  2. During: stay in control and keep your meeting structured
  3. After: check in with the governor and escalate the problem if necessary
  4. Examples of difficult conversations

The chair is best placed to approach difficult conversations with governors 

Note: this article is aimed at the chair of governors, as they're best placed to deal with these conversations.

If you're a governor who is aware of an issue with another board member, talk to your chair about it first.

Before: how to prepare for the conversation

Make sure you’ve planned what you’ll say, and take your time to prepare for the meeting so you feel confident.

1.  Invite the appropriate people

Remember to give the governor enough notice, so they don't feel like the meeting is being sprung on them.

Formally invite the governor to the meeting (via email is best, so you have a record of your process) Briefly let them know what the meeting is for (say you'll go into the details during the meeting) Explain how the meeting will