Leadership Tips for Principals
By Dean Deaver, Principal
When I first went into administration, I told people I was a “Baby Assistant Principal.” Three years later, I moved up to a “Toddler AP”. In those few formative years, there was the middle and end of distance learning, the return of in-person learning, and a dramatic shift in the world of education. Leadership has been stretched to new heights and challenges. The question is, where do we go from here? The short answer is, we get to and can do hard things together.
Do Hard Things as a Team
The first leadership tip is we are on the same team. Sounds simple and trite, but it goes deep and has a lasting and meaningful impact when an administrator has this mindset. It does not mean we always agree, but it does mean we work and talk together for the success of our students, their families, and for our staff. Sometimes those talks are difficult and uncomfortable. That is the privilege we have as leaders because we guide our team through these challenges because we get to and can do hard things together.
Recognize, Interrupt, and Repair
A second tip is a tool to guide a leader through difficult conversations. In our district we have been trained on RIR Protocol™. In short, it is Recognize, Interrupt and Repair. There have been three separate occasions that I have used this tool. Two times were successful and one was not. In all three situations, there was a teacher who did something that did not feel or seem right. It was not necessary to write them up for disciplinary action or even have a formal meeting. These are informal conversations where I discuss with them something that needed to be addressed (Recognize) and I wanted to get their feedback on what they were thinking (Interrupt). In all three situations I waited to talk to them many days later so it was not in the heat of emotions and not to embarrass them. The last step is to work together to find a solution or a better way to approach what had occurred (Repair).
In the two that were successful, both teachers did recognize that the way they handled their situation could have been better and together we discussed a more effective and positive approach if it were to happen again. I was immediately met with push back for the third one, and the teacher was very defensive. Ironically we still came up with a positive solution to the situation but this teacher still met with my principal and complained that they felt “attacked” by me. My takeaway was that I had not established a better working relationship with this teacher for her to accept my feedback and to have a difficult conversation. Even though this was not a positive ending, as a leader, I learned that getting to and doing hard things together isn’t always smooth and simple but often requires more investment of my time with staff members so that we can move forward and still be on the same team with the same goals.
As the new year begins this fall, I have the honor of being our school’s new principal. I am now a “Baby Principal” with much to learn. However, our schools need leaders who understand that it is a privilege to lead this generation by looking at what could be and not just at what is happening. We lead upwards, sideways and downwards with the people in our sphere of influence. We lead knowing that we get to and can do hard things with the humbleness and mindset that we do it together.
Dean Deaver is currently a principal in California and has been in education for more than 25 years.
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