Ten Traits of Highly Effective Principals

1. The Communicator

The highly effective principal is a communicator- a genuine and open human being
with the capacity to listen, empathize, and connect with individual students, parents
and teachers in productive, helping and healing ways, as well as the ability to teach,
present, and motivate people in larger group settings.

1.1 Communicators attend

1.2 Communicators listen
1.3 Communicators empathize
1.4 Communicators disclose themselves to others.
1.5 Communicators get the whole story
1.6 Communicators ask the right questions.
1.7 Communicators say what they mean and mean what they say.
1.8 Communicators can accept criticism.
1.9 Communicators can give correction.
1.10 Communicators communicate creatively.
1.11 Communicators can disagree agreeably.
1.12 Communicators always pay attention to parents.
1.13 Communicators connect emotionally and professionally with staff.
1.14 Communicators communicate with students
1.15 Communicators can talk to the boss.
1.16 Communicators connect in productive, helping, and healing ways
1.17 Communicators care enough to send the very best.
1.18 Communicators know how to schmooze.
1.19 Communicators write, speak, and teach.

2. The Educator

The highly effective principal is an educator- a self directed instructional leader with
a strong intellect and personal depth of knowledge regarding research-based
curriculum, instruction, and learning who motivates and facilitates the intellectual
growth and development of self, students, teachers, and parents.

2.1 Educators believe that all students can learn, and they develop programs to help
them succeed.
2.2 Educators provide training and support for teachers.
2.3 Educators create cognitive dissonance.
2.4 Educators establish, implement, and achieve academic standards.
2.5 Educators focus on instruction.
2.6 Educators model continuous leaning.
2.7 Educators develop teacher leader.
2.8 Educators pay attention to what matters most.
 2.9 Educators create learning communities.
3. The Envisioner

The highly effective principal is an envisioner- an individual who is motivated by a

sense of calling and purpose, focused on a vision of what schools can be, and guided
by a mission that has the best interests of all students at its core.

3.1 Envisioners are hedgehogs.

3.2 Envisioners feel called.
3.3 Envisioners have resolve, goals, and life vision.
3.4 Envisioners can see the invisible.
3.5 Envisioners know where they are headed
3.6 Envisioners have compelling visions.
3.7 Envisioners can articulate their visions and then make them happen.

4. The Facilitator

The highly effective principal is a facilitator- a leader with outstanding human

relations skills that include the abilities to build individual relationships with parents,
teacher, and students; collaborative teams with staff members and parents; and a
school wide community of leaders.

4.1 Facilitators bond people into a community of leaders.

4.2 Facilitators tap the potential of people.
4.3 Facilitators say “we” instead of “I”.
4.4 Facilitators favor people over paperwork.
4.5 Facilitators build up emotional bank accounts.
4.6 Facilitators cultivate their own well-being.
4.7 Facilitators value diversity.
4.8 Facilitators share the “power-pie.”
4.9 Facilitators accentuate the positives.
4.10 Facilitators promote parental involvement.
4.11 Facilitators cheerlead and celebrate.
4.12 Facilitators spend time with students.

5. The Change Master

The highly effective principal is a change master- a flexible, futuristic, and realistic
individual who is able to both motivate and manage change in an organized,
positive, and enduring fashion.

5.1 Change Masters can handle uncertainty and ambiguity.

5.2 Change Masters respect resisters.
5.3 Change Masters are futuristic.
5.4 Change Masters use a situational approach
 5.5 Change Masters know that the power is within.
5.6 Change Masters value the process.
5.7 Change Masters plan for short-term victories.
5.8 Change Masters provide resources.
5.9 Change Masters trust their teams.
5.10 Change Masters are willing to change themselves.
5.11 Change Masters are motivators.
5.12 Change Masters understand the change process.

6. The Culture Builder

The highly effective principal is a culture builder- an individual who communicates

and models a strong and viable vision based on achievement, expectations,
character, personal responsibility, and accountability.

6.1 Culture Builders understand and appreciate the power of culture.

6.2 Culture Builders know what a good culture looks like.
6.3 Culture Builders facilitate the development of core values.
6.4 Culture Builders communicate those values clearly.
6.5 Culture Builders reward and cheer those who support and enhance the culture.
6.6 Culture Builders build cultures that people choose.
6.7 Culture Builders know that the “small stuff” is really the “big stuff.”

7. The Activator

The highly effective principal is an activator- an individual with gumption (e.g., drive,
motivation, enthusiasm, energy, spunk, and humor) enough to spare and share with
staff, parents, and students.

7.1 Activators mobilize people.

7.2 Activators are entrepreneurial.
7.3 Activators don’t wait to be told
7.4 Activators are risk takers.
7.5 Activators ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
7.6 Activators run to daylight.
7.7 Activators don’t micromanage.
7.8 Activators make things happen.
7.9 Activators are outrageous.
7.10 Activators are cheerleaders.

8. The Producer

The highly effective principal is a producer- a results-oriented individual with a

strong sense of accountability to taxpayers, parents, students, and teachers who
 translates high expectations into intellectual development and academic
achievement for all students.

8.1 Producers believe that achievement is the bottom line.

8.2 Producers never mistake activity for achievement.
8.3 Producers are data driven.
8.4 Producers pay attention to individual students.
8.5 Producers have academically focused missions.
8.6 Producers make research-based decisions.
8.7 Producers hold teachers accountable.

9. The Character Builder

The highly effective principal is a character builder- a role model whose values,
words, and deeds are marked by trustworthiness, integrity, authenticity, respect,
generosity, and humility.

9.1 Character Builders are human.

9.2 Character Builders are trustworthy.
9.3 Character Builders have integrity.
9.4 Character Builders are authentic
9.5 Character Builders are respectful.
9.6 Character Builders are generous.
9.7 Character Builders are humble
9.8 Character Builders hire staff members with character.
9.9 Character Builders are consistent.
9.10 Character Builders lead by example, not by exhortation.
9.11 Character Builders seek to develop the character of students.

10.The Contributor

The highly effective principal is a contributor- a servant- leader, encourager, and

enabler whose utmost priority is making contributions to the success of others.

10.1 Contributors lead by serving others.

10.2 Contributors are self-aware and reflective.
10.3 Contributors are good stewards.
10.4 Contributors have strong wills.