As a new principal, you will find that your relationships with teachers and support staff are changed. As a teacher, you may have been comfortable as one of the group, involved in an easy give and take on daily events and readily giving and receiving feedback on how you were doing. As the principal, you will be surprised by how differently you are seen by these same people even though you are still the same person.
Staff will give more attention to what you say. Many will be less inclined to tell you what they really think. People who in the past might react to one of your ideas with, "What? Are you nuts?" will likely react more carefully while thinking, "Hmmm, do you suppose s/he will really make us do that? or try to?"
So how do you find out what people really think? How do you re-establish your bellwether indicators that keep you on the right path? Where will you find wise and unbiased counsel in your new role?
Next week, we will find the answers to these questions in four parts:
a. Don't succumb to flattery.
b. Don't be moved by unfair criticism.
c. Provide easy avenues for feedback.
d. Act on the feedback that you receive.
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