At the core of your leadership effectiveness is the team that works from the main office of the school. In a small school, this may be just you and your secretary. In a large school, this may include a number of assistant principals, deans, counselors, activities and athletic directors, and clerical staff. Whatever the size of your office-based group, your first focus will be to see that they view themselves as a team, that they know their respective and collective responsibilities, and that they understand your expectations for them.
What do you want people to think and say about your leadership team? What kind of atmosphere do you want people to experience when they walk into the front office? When you meet with your new office-based staff, what are the important topics that you will want them to think about and discuss? What are your expectations?
Consider these three groups with whom you are in direct contact on a daily basis and who represent the school leadership to the staff, students and community:
a) the school office staff,
b) the co-administrators (assistant principals and deans), and
c) the extended school leadership team (including teachers who have part-time release from the classroom to serve leadership or administrative functions).
These groups represent the school's leadership. It is your responsibility to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities in this regard and that they understand the impact of their behaviors on the learning environment. So how might you go about working with each group to create enthusiasm and energy as they go about their jobs? Next we will look at how you might work with each group to build a high-performing team.
And remember Rule #2 Keep a smile on your face. Have fun! This will ensure that people around you also feel like smiling. And that is a most important factor for success.
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