The Power of Humor

Posted on March 3, 2026 Written by

When a principal uses humor, it can always be a bit risky. But the type of humor can make all the difference.

Jonny Thompson of “Big Think” believes that most humor falls into one of two categories: affiliative and adversarial. Affiliative humor is universally non-offensive and brings people together. Adversarial humor creates bonds by mocking others.

In the words of the author, “Laughter can bind or divide, heal or conceal, depending on whether it’s reaching out or striking back.” So it’s very important for principals to think carefully about the types of humor they use and the jokes they tell. In the end, that reflection not only can help improve our leadership style, but also tell us a lot about who we really are.

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Seven Key Questions

Posted on February 17, 2026 Written by

Before you charge headfirst into that major new project, it’s vital to first gather your team and review these seven key questions. This preliminary activity reflects a core strategy implemented by some of America’s most successful CEOs (like Jeff Bezos and the late Steve Jobs), and it helps set the stage for achieving maximum productivity with minimal effort.

Two of these questions focus on whether you’ve defined the real problem that you’re attempting to solve, and if it truly aligns with your school’s major goals … or if this new project will just drain your team’s energy and dilute momentum. (Note: Even with mandated changes, this can help you “tweak” new initiatives so that they better align with your primary mission.)

In short, taking time to carefully explore these key questions doesn’t slow you down. Instead, it helps you organize and refine your efforts as a team, giving you a much better chance to deliver results that genuinely resonate with stakeholders.

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A Vital Leadership Strategy

Posted on February 3, 2026 Written by

One of the most often overlooked leadership strategies is … SLEEP!

As pressure on principals continues to mount from all sides, getting a healthy amount of sleep must always be a major priority. That’s because every major decision, strategic pivot, and emotionally-charged interaction draws from a finite biological reserve … which can be replenished by quality rest.

In this article from Forbes magazine, Julian Hayes II reminds corporate CEOs about the dangers of ignoring this fundamental principle. And the concept applies to educational leaders, too! In the words of the author, “A rested mind doesn’t just respond faster; it also perceives more clearly as it identifies patterns, anticipates challenges, and synthesizes strategies from complexity.”

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Don’t Fumble Feedback!

Posted on January 6, 2026 Written by

Principals must provide teachers and staff with feedback … but there are good ways and bad ways to approach this vital task. When feedback is delivered in the right way, it generates positive outcomes. But unfortunately, the opposite is true as well! That’s why mastering the art of good feedback is so important.

This article from the business world offers four tips for effective feedback. It emphasizes the importance of making feedback actionable, timely, sensitive and conversational. As Steven Levitt once said, “The key to learning is feedback. It is nearly impossible to learn anything without it.” 

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