The following tips and tricks are designed to help principals (new and seasoned) fulfill their leadership role.
- Maintain a positive attitude – You set the stage for your school just as your teachers set the stage for their classrooms.
- Pick your battles – Realize that not every issue needs to be addressed. Identify what you stand for and fight for what is important.
- Be your own cheerleader – Constantly tell yourself, “You can do it!” Find within yourself the strength and courage to keep going.
- Don’t expect to win the popularity contest – Decisions you have to make will never please everyone. Do what's is right, not what will help others like you.
- Understand that schools build character – An effective leader has the power to help students and teachers grow and learn in profound ways.
- Put children first – Don’t let media or political agendas get in the way of deciding what’s best for your students’ needs and learning.
- Connect with other principals and administrators – Find out what they are doing in their school. See what is and isn’t working for them and come up with solutions together.
- Embrace technology – Realize that it’s here to stay... now learn how to become a leader in it.
- Keep the central office informed – They can be your allies or your critics, so be sure to ask for advice and let them know stories of your journey along the way.
- Acknowledge and respect your predecessors - Keep in mind that ghosts of the past can haunt the school.
- Remember the #1 rule of customer service – When it comes to your students, faculty, and parents you should always kill them with kindness.
- Once you walk across the Principal threshold, relationships change – Recognize that you are now viewed as the ultimate authority in school by parents, former colleagues, and students.
- Don’t change anything the first year – Focus on personal learning by observing and building relationships. Teachers resent change, so make sure that any change you later propose had better be worth it and acknowledged by most as needed.
- Meet with your faculty regularly – Prepare teachers ahead of time about what will be discussed, and be respectful of people’s time. Keep the meetings short if at all possible.
- Assign leadership roles – Design a school-wide discipline plan with your teacher leaders and decide who will handle what and what will be the penalties for a range of behavior infractions.
- Don’t think teachers want you as their friend – They need someone who will make sure the school is running properly.
- Write notes of appreciation – Never devalue the simple act of thanking your staff for doing a great job.
- Refer angry parents to speak to the teacher first – If a problem is not resolved after talking to the teacher, have them contact you to help improve the situation.
- Offer teachers meaningful professional development – Make sure that anything presented to them is worth their time and effort.
- Don’t forget your own professional development – Spend time reflecting on your leadership, continue to learn by reading, attending professional meetings, and conversing with other administrators.
- Accept that you are not perfect – And realize that concept applies to others as well.
- Don’t be a workaholic – Take care of yourself and your teachers. Encourage your staff to go home to a healthy and balanced life.
- Have a vision for your school – You must believe in your vision if you hope to inspire your staff to get on board with the same goals.
- Embrace new ideas – If you or one of your teachers discover something new, get everyone involved by learning and exploring together.
- Always remember that communication is key – Observations with formative feedback go a long way in helping your teachers meet your expectations.
- Be an advocate – Get to know your teachers; become their biggest fan and supporter.
- Lead by example – Start each day by saying to yourself, “I’m going to be the principal I’d like to work for.”
- Think before you decide – The only things that require an immediate response are police, firemen, and the superintendent. Everyone else can wait for you to think on it.
- Listen – Principals are required to give a lot of output... but taking in is important too.
- Be appreciative of your classified staff – engage in thoughtful and courageous conversations with the custodial, front office, paraprofessionals, technology, and similar positions. Always try to go out of your way to strike up conversations and make them feel appreciated.
- Do your homework – Make sure that you have all the information you need before making a decision.
- Ask your teachers to create a wish list – Let them decide what they need to improve instruction in their classrooms ... and then do your best to get at least one (or more, if possible) of the items for each teacher during the school year.
- Criticize in private – You can always praise an employee in public, but save your criticism for a private discussion.
- Don't be a know-it-all – If you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to say, "I'll check on this issue and get back you." Give yourself time to get it right.
- Make personal connections with your staff – Take time to really listen. Building a relationship with each one is essential in creating and cultivating your professional learning community.
- Be visible – extracurricular activities, on the web, in the classrooms, at lunch. Communicate with the entire staff and constantly seek feedback and look to improve yourself and your school.
- Have a "What can we change?" mentality to student misbehavior – Students misbehave for specific reasons...only giving them consequences without intervening on the issues that cause the misbehavior (learning difficulties, poor instruction, boredom in class) only treats the symptom, not the issue.
- Use your resources well – Let teachers know that the best teachers may be asked to take the most difficult students sometimes. However, don’t burn them out! Let time, money, praise, critical comment, and attention support what is important. Serve your students well because you have prioritized your resources thoughtfully.
- Get to know your school – Understand the school’s customs, cultures, and traditions that underscore the very existence of the school. Once you are able to identify with these time honored transitions, you are in a better position to move the school forward.
- Always say hi to parents – Whether you know them or not. If you are standing by a parent or group of parents, join the conversation for a minute or two.
- Try to laugh everyday – Keeping your sense of humor and play is important.
- Maintain perspective – When you are frustrated of all that needs to done, reflect and see how far you have come.
- Make your staff self-advocates – Teaching staff to be self reliant and able to deal with items as they arise will pay off in the future. Try to get them to think through items they bring to you that they want you to solve.
- Know your students – Know the name of every student for whom you are responsible, not just the ones who get sent to your office for discipline.
- Never forget where you came from – You're an educator first and a manager second.
- Identify those that need help – If you see a teacher struggling or simply not teaching well, intervene with coaching, connection with a mentor, do whatever it takes early on.
- Don't be afraid to let people go – It's always hard to lose someone from your team. But if a teacher is not working out for whatever reason at your school, allow them to move on and find a place they fit into.
- Maintain balance – Manners and mutual respect while practicing patience and tolerance will aid n assist not just the students, but also the understanding of the faculty.
- Loyalty for Loyalty – Proper communication and expression of intent will ease the troubled mind whenever staff think they are all alone against the board.
- Enjoy your job – If you don’t do everything in your power to be the very best principal you can and if you are not willing to learn and grow in your job every day by understanding the very best method and practice ...find a job doing something you love and can do well.
So... what do you think?
Principals, do you agree or disagree with my list? More importantly, what can you add to it?
Please comment on any tips or advise you would recommend to other principals.
