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December 1, 2014
Vol. 56
No. 12

Road Tested / Surviving the First Year

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"Are you under a lot of stress?" A doctor asked me this question as I lay in the emergency room with stomach pain that felt like a horse had kicked me. I was a new high school principal, just two weeks on the job and in the process of selling a house and moving to a new state. So, how did I answer? "Not really."
One year later, after finishing my first year as a principal in Alabama and learning to live with what doctors diagnosed as diverticulitis, I can honestly say that Noel Coward's quote, "Work is more fun than fun," could be applied to how I feel about my job. Here are 10 pointers that helped me survive a fun and eventful first year.

1. Be a Learner Yourself

Find out what other administrators are reading and get a copy. I've heard leaders talk about Love Works by Joel Manby, Start with Why by Simon Sinek, The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews, and Good to Great by Jim Collins. Sometimes you hit the educator's jackpot and can also get nuggets, like TED Talks, online for free.

2. Look Confident

As a dad of four, I've learned you have to stay confident even when the only thing you're certain about is your uncertainty. SLANT (sit up, lean forward, ask questions, nod your head, and track the speaker) is a great strategy to use around your superintendent, board members, and other stakeholders from whom you can learn something. Watch Amy Cuddy's TED Talk, "Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are," for tips to project confidence.
Likewise, be sure to dress for the position. Remember, sea captains wear those funny hats and generals have brass on their shoulders for a reason—people need to sense that someone is the decision maker.

3. Tell a Story

As the head of the school, you are the "communicator in chief." Communicate with your staff in a weekly e-mail. Include a kudos section, a calendar of reminders, pictures showing effective instructional practices, and a section to reinforce your vision or share data.
Schedule regular automated phone calls or send text reminders to students and parents. Use social media to post anything from pictures of students doing good work to inspirational quotes. Apps like Everypost can help you stay consistent in your messaging.
For a more personal touch, write and mail handwritten thank-you notes. This lost art can make people feel as good as when they found out their grandma made an extra pecan pie just for them.

4. Reward Others

Reward those who do what is asked of them. Call on alumni, local businesses, politicians, and churches and tell them that for a certain donation toward an incentives program for students, you will put their logo on the school website and announce their support in your automated calls to parents and on social media.
Last year, my school received several thousand dollars in donations. Students were on cloud nine—and morale went through the roof.

5. Find a Slogan

In 1980, Ted Kennedy was asked why he was running for president. It took him several minutes to explain the what and the how, but he never answered the why. Political consultants still talk about the "Ted Kennedy Rule": candidates must communicate why they are running in eight words or less. It's called a slogan.
Each year, come up with a slogan for your school. Last year, we went with "Believe in the Promise of Piedmont." It became the theme of our yearbook and was talked about by community leaders. It gave stakeholders the why for what we do.

6. Ask How You Are Doing

Ed Koch, the former mayor of New York, would ask random New Yorkers on the street, "How am I doing?" Guess what he got? Honest answers!
Sit down with your teachers and ask them how you are doing as a principal. This question opens up lines of communication because most teachers will also inquire about how they are doing. This gives you the opportunity to reinforce their positive attributes and speak softly but truthfully about how they can improve.
Also, sit with your students at lunch and ask them how you are doing and how their classes are going. They, too, will tell you.

7. Volunteer

Some of the greatest fighting men and women in history are those who volunteered for a dangerous mission. Think of the Overmountain Men in the American Revolution, the Volunteers of Tennessee in the War of 1812, and those who joined the armed forces immediately after 9/11.
The quickest way to get ahead is to learn what those around you value. When your central office bosses say they are sending you an e-mail about an upcoming conference, that is their way of asking you to attend because they think it is valuable. Go! Not only are you helping fulfill the vision of your superiors, but you are also modeling what you would like from your teachers.

8. Seek a Team of Talent

Dorris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals tells how Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with those who either thought they should be the president or were highly capable of assuming the role.
Like Lincoln, surround yourself with strong administrative and teacher leadership teams. Meet weekly with your administrative team and monthly with your teacher leadership team. Go over big questions, institutional practices, and instructional strategies.
If you are not sure who to pick for your teacher leadership team, poll your teachers online, asking them which teachers they consider to be leaders, and then take the top four. The leaders of both teams will become trusted advisors and help guide your school.

9. Know Thyself

Let your staff know that you may make mistakes but you will learn from them. When you do make a mistake, humbly admit it and move on.
Follow your moral compass. My faith and family are most important to me. Every now and then, after many days at work and nights at ballgames, I ask my wife, "Are we OK?" It is a good question to ask because it gives you the personal foundation upon which to stand.
Not long ago, my 3-year-old daughter said I smelled. I asked her, "What do I smell like?" "Happiness!" she said. Her statement made my day.

10. Reward Yourself

There is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself for your hard work. When I first became an administrator in 2008, I bought a framed print of Francis Bicknell Carpenter's First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. When I became a principal, I bought a large bust called Young Lincoln by Leonard Volk. The print reminds me to surround myself with talented people, and the bust reminds me that folks are trusting me as a leader.

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