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In today’s episode, I wanna talk about reflecting on your leadership and what you’ve learned about yourself as a principal. That’s all coming up next on The Principal’s Handbook.
Welcome to The Principal’s Handbook, your go-to resource for principals looking to revamp their leadership approach and prioritize self-care.
I’m Barb Flowers, a certified life coach with eight years of experience as an elementary principal. Tune in each week as we delve into strategies for boosting mental resilience, managing time effectively, and nurturing overall wellness.
From tackling daily challenges to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, we’ll navigate the complexities of school leadership together.
Join me in fostering your sense of purpose as a principal and reigniting your passion for the job.
Welcome to a podcast where your well-being is the top [00:01:00] priority.
Main Episode Content
Welcome back, everyone! Today we are going to be going through a reflection on our leadership. There have been quite a few podcast episodes recently focused on reflecting, goal setting, and thinking about ways we want to improve as leaders.
One reason I think this is so important is that we spend so much time being busy—especially as principals. You’re go, go, go all the time. Unless you’re intentional, it’s really hard to sit back and reflect.
This year, if you’re newer to the podcast, I actually stepped back from my role as an elementary principal after six years, and before that I was an assistant principal. I transitioned into life coaching full-time for principals.
Being home coaching was great. I loved the flexible schedule (something I think many principals wonder about). And while it’s been awesome to have that flexibility—especially with my two little kids—I have to tell you, I miss leadership.
Having some time to reflect helped me realize just how much I love the job. When you step away, you gain perspective. I’ve thought deeply about what kind of work I want to do and what really brings me fulfillment. And honestly, I love being a principal. I love the relationships with kids, teachers, and parents. I love leading a building and helping make a difference.
Summer Reflection for Principals
I encourage you this summer to take that kind of reflective time. It’s crucial for your growth. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, what you enjoy about the job, and what you don’t.
When I coach principals, I often ask them to think about the parts of the job they love—those are the things that energize you. For me, that’s always been instructional leadership. I got my master’s in curriculum and instruction. I did my PhD dissertation on instructional leadership. It’s in my DNA.
While I didn’t love handling discipline, I found a way to shift my perspective. But I always tried to let the parts I loved fill my cup—like leading PD for the district or improving instruction.
There will always be parts of the job you don’t like. But when you do the things you love, let those moments refuel you.
Sometimes, just spending time with kids after a tough parent conversation helped remind me why I chose this profession. Those little resets matter.
Energy Management & Proactivity
If you’re constantly drained, it’s usually because you’re only reacting. You’ve got to be proactive and make space for the things that give you life.
Take time to slow down and reflect:
Emotional Awareness as a Principal
I teach my clients: Your thoughts create your emotions, which create your actions.
So emotions are constantly driving our decisions, even if we think we’re pushing them aside.
Ideally, we lead from a neutral emotional state—not from high frustration or even high excitement. That requires awareness.
Think back:
I remember breaking down in my office early in my career. I had kept it all in—and finally needed to release it. It wasn’t weakness. It was human.
We often suppress emotions to stay composed, but we must also make space to process and release them. Whether that’s through exercise, journaling, or quiet time—it’s essential. Know what works for you.
Reactions Reveal Patterns
Reflect on this past year:
For me, curriculum decisions and certain student discipline issues always hit a nerve. And knowing that helped me grow.
Be honest with yourself about what lights you up and what sets you off. When you notice patterns, you can plan better and lead with intention.
Learning from Challenges
Think about your toughest leadership moments:
For me, losing a teacher to cancer my final year brought immense reflection. I had never led through something like that. But now I’ve grown from it, and I’ll be better prepared for the future.
The more challenges you face, the stronger you become. You won’t always see it in the moment, but over time, the growth becomes obvious.
And when you coach or mentor others, those stories become powerful tools.
Final Thoughts
You don’t become a great leader from smooth days. You grow from the hard days. So take time to process your reactions, emotions, and challenges from this past year.
If you’re walking or driving while listening—come back to this. Journal through it. Sit with it.
Because you know yourself better than anyone. And the more you know yourself, the more authentic and effective your leadership becomes.
Closing
Thanks for listening to the podcast!
If this was helpful, share it with a friend and reflect together. Summer is a great time to dive into this work.
And if you love the show, head to Apple Podcasts, scroll down, and leave a review—it helps others find the show.
Remember: You have the power to shape your life according to the mindset you choose.
Have a great week, and I’ll see you here next time!
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