The website About.com has a post to ask the question “why is school principal one of the most hated professions”? Is the school principal really hated? As the about.com article suggests, the school principal is like the CEO of the school. If a school principal did their job in a very respectable manner (highly effective communicator, consistently making good decisions, setting clear strategies and goals, supporting all stakeholders effectively) would they really be hated? Experience and research in the work world suggests that someone in a job that can be “disliked for what it is” can actually change the perception, and in fact, not be hated. It is based on the person’s talents and how well they match to the job’s requirements.
The position of School Principal is ususally obtained through the teaching path. So which teachers make good Principals? Is it possible that there are some teachers that are not cut out to be teachers but could be great school principals? The two jobs are so different that it is very likely that a mediocre teacher can make a great school principal. However, there are certain personal leadership qualities that a teacher must have that will serve a person in the principal’s role. Without those, the person would fail in the principal’s role.
If you are a teacher or Principal of a school and want to assess your personal talent skills (no cost) please complete the information request form on our home page. You may also e-mail directly to Carl Nielson, Chief Discovery Officer, Success Discoveries. For the subject line, please reference: Personal Talent Skills for School Principal, skill assessment request.
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