Great question—and such an important one.

Stepping into a principalship for the first time can feel both exciting and overwhelming. There’s a lot of pressure to “get it right,” and from the outside, it can look like a new leader should have all the answers. But the truth is, strong leadership starts with presence, not perfection.

One approach I’ve leaned on time and again is this: Listen. Learn. Then Lead.

Listen

Start by hearing the voices that make up your school community. Students, teachers, paraprofessionals, families, custodians, and office staff—each has insight and lived experience that can help shape your understanding of what the school needs and values.

Learn

After listening, begin to look for the patterns. What are the priorities of the district? What are the goals already in motion at your site? What strengths are already embedded in the culture? Effective leadership is about building on what’s working while thoughtfully identifying where growth is needed.

Lead 

Now, bring your own leadership gifts into the mix. The qualities that made you effective in the classroom—your empathy, creativity, clarity, and ability to connect—are still the tools that will serve you well. Just because your title has changed doesn’t mean your authenticity should.

Stepping into school leadership is a journey. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need to show up, stay curious, and remain grounded in who you are and why you do this work.

You’ve got this!

Are you stepping into your first principal role, or do you have wisdom from your own leadership journey to share?

Drop your advice, encouragement, or questions in the comments below. Let’s build a community where new and veteran school leaders can support one another in leading with presence, purpose, and heart.