Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
About the Author
Introduction
Where Have All the Good Leaders Gone?
Can Everyday Administrators Learn "Leadership"? You Bet!
How Leadership in Schools Is Different
The Difference Between Effective School Leaders and Run-of-the-Mill Managers
What It Takes to Be an Effective School Leader Today
1. Making Decisions
Where Do Good Ideas Come From?
Input: How to Get It, Where to Get It, and When to Ignore It
Data-Driven Decision Making: An Old Tool With New Importance
Procrastination Is a Decision-Sometimes, the Right One
Real-World Steps in Decision Making
Intuitive Leadership: When to Trust Your Instincts
2. Planning for the Future
How Effective School Leaders Use the Visioning Process
Strategic Planning by the Numbers
The "SMART" Model for Goal Setting
A Flowchart for Effective Planning
Planning Is a Secret Weapon
3. Getting the Most Out of People
Winning and Losing Leadership Styles
Morale: Does It Matter Anymore?
Shaping a School Culture That Works for Everyone
Is Teamwork All It's Cracked Up to Be?
How to Get the Most Out of Students
How to Get the Most Out of Staff
How to Get the Most Out of the District Office, the School Board, and the Community
How Effective Leaders Get the Most Out of Themselves
4. Bringing About Change
Don't Confuse Cosmetic Changes With Real Reform
When to Change and When to Leave Well Enough Alone
Understanding the Evolution of a Revolution: The Many Faces and Phases of Change
Change Strategies That Really Work in Today's School Climate
How to Sell New Ideas and Make Them Work
5. Spending Time
Who Controls a Leader's Time?
Setting Priorities: Paper Versus People
How Effective School Leaders Spend 1,440 Minutes per Day
The Ten Worst Time-Use Mistakes
Other Work-Smarter Ways to Save Time
6. Handling Politics
Good Politics, Bad Politics
How to Be Politically Savvy: "Street Smarts" for School Leaders
Everyday Political Strategies for Today's School Leaders
Tips on Working With Political Leaders
How to Get Noticed, Get Ahead, and Get Things Done Without Playing Politics
7. Dealing With Setbacks
Worrying Only Makes It Worse
What It Takes to Bounce Back
Is There a Spin Doctor in the House?
Building a Reputation as a Survivor
8. Thinking Like a Leader
Anticipatory Thinking: Getting the Jump on Problems
What to Do When the Big Picture Is a Kaleidoscope
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective School Leaders, With Apologies to Stephen Covey
More Aids to Clear Thinking
9. Looking and Acting Like an Effective School Leader
There's No One Right Way to Act-But There Are Lots of Wrong Ways
Maintaining a Professional Edge
Paying Attention to the Little Things That Mark a Leader
10. Using the Tools of Leadership
Speaking and Writing Like a Leader
How to Make Meetings Work for You
Guidelines for Working With Committees
Managing While Walking Around (MWWA): Leadership Up Close and Personal
Don't Overlook These Other Leadership Tools
11. Communication Tips for School Leaders
Understanding the Elements of School Communication
More Writing Tips for School Leaders
More Speaking Tips for School Leaders
Tips on Nonverbal Communication
You Can't Kill the Grapevine
A New Wrinkle: The One-Minute Manager Meets the Two-Minute Mind
25 Ways School Leaders Can Improve Communication
12. Practicing Ethical Leadership
Do Ethics Matter Anymore?
Why Ethical Leadership in Schools Is Different
The Concept of "Moral Hazard"
Using Values as a Moral Compass: This Is No Time to Get Lost
Principles for Principals and Other Administrators
A Code of Ethics for Today's School Leaders
13. A Final Word
You Know You're a Leader When . . .
Resource A: 105 Ways to Be a Better School Leader Tomorrow
Resource B: What Others Say About Leadership
Resource C: A Beginning Bibliography for School Leaders
Index