About this podcast
Are you feeling swamped by the demands of being a principal? From juggling emails, calls, and decisions to boosting test scores and wading through endless paperwork, the pressure is real.
But imagine a scenario where you no longer feel this overwhelming stress. Picture yourself as a more resilient leader, concentrating on enhancing your school rather than merely coping with the daily tasks that currently consume your time.
I‘m Barb Flowers. Drawing upon my eight-year experience as an elementary principal, with a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and certification as a life coach, Along the way, I've mentored and coached school leaders, guiding them to change their mindset, set boundaries and focus on their own well-being while navigating their roles.
Each episode offers practical insights on time management, communication, overcoming overwhelm, boosting confidence, and fostering a positive mindset. We'll also discuss topics like working with stakeholders, implementing new initiatives, and managing discipline. Let's set boundaries, focus on well-being, and reignite your passion for being a principal. Welcome to "The Principal's Handbook."
I firmly believe that to be an impactful educator, you must first become a confident and well-rounded individual. Join us in this journey to empower and enhance your confidence as a school leader.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 171 episodes
- Leading Instructional Improvement With (or Without) an Instructional Coach · 21 min · Episode 167How can principals effectively partner with instructional coaches to improve teaching and learning? And what happens when your school doesn't have an instructional coach? In this…
- Before We Add Another Intervention, Let’s Fix Tier 1 · 18 min · Episode 166Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of everything we do, but improving it doesn’t mean every teacher has to follow a script perfectly. In this episode, we’re talking about…
- Manager vs. Leader: Balancing Both as Principals · 13 min · Episode 165In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we explore the difference between management and leadership and why effective principals need both. You'll learn how management…
- Why a Better To-Do List Won't Fix Your Time Problem · 14 min · Episode 164Think a better planner or longer to-do list will finally help you get ahead? In this episode, we're unpacking why the real issue isn't your productivity system, it's the habits…
- Ten Habits for Busy Principals · 16 min · Episode 163In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, I share 10 simple habits that have helped me become a more effective leader, parent, and person. From protecting time in the morning…
- You Shouldn't Have to Wait Until Summer to Feel Like Yourself Again · 12 min · Episode 162Do you feel like there are two versions of you—the relaxed, present summer version and the overwhelmed, exhausted school-year version? In this episode, we explore what that gap…
- Your Calendar Is Showing Your Real Leadership Priorities · 14 min · Episode 161Your calendar reveals more about your leadership priorities than your intentions do. In this episode, learn how to audit your calendar to see whether your time is being spent…
- Stop Letting Other People’s Urgency Run Your Day · 17 min · Episode 160Not everything that feels urgent actually is. In this episode, I share a simple red, yellow, and green framework to help you decide what truly needs your immediate attention…
- What Actually Matters in the First 30 Days of School · 16 min · Episode 159The first 30 days of school can make everything feel urgent, but effective leadership starts with knowing what matters first. In this episode, we’ll focus on the foundations that…
- How to Make This School Year Sustainable (Instead of Just Surviving It) · 13 min · Episode 158Too many principals spend the school year just trying to survive. In this episode, you'll learn four practical strategies to make your leadership more sustainable by simplifying…
- Subtracting the Noise as a Principal · 11 min · Episode 157In this episode, you'll learn the first principle of Leadership by Subtraction: subtract the noise. As a principal, it's easy to feel like every email, interruption, parent…
- The Hidden Cost of Too Many Priorities as a Principal · 15 min · Episode 156In this episode, we explore why so many principals feel like they're constantly putting out fires and why the real issue often isn't time, but too many competing priorities…
- Bonus Episode: The Power of Group Coaching for Principals · 10 minPrincipals don’t need more information—they need space to think, reflect, and actually implement what matters most. In this bonus episode, I share why group coaching is so…
- The Secret to Better Leadership Isn't Doing More · 13 min · Episode 155In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we explore why becoming a better leader isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing less with greater intention. You’ll learn how trying…
- From Self-Doubt to Confidence for Principals · 18 min · Episode 154Self-doubt is something every principal experiences, but it doesn't have to define your leadership. In this episode, I share my ACT Framework to help you recognize the thoughts…
- The Principal Reset Series: The Self-Doubting Principal · 19 min · Episode 153In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook Summer Reset Series, we explore the patterns and habits of the self-doubting principal. Through the example of a principal who…
- The Principal Reset Series: The Perfectionist · 17 min · Episode 152In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook Summer Reset Series, we explore the mindset and habits of the perfectionist principal. You'll learn how perfectionism shows up in…
- The Principal Reset Series: The People Pleaser · 19 min · Episode 151In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we explore the challenges of being a people-pleasing principal and how the need for approval can impact leadership decisions. You'll…
- The Principal Reset Series: The Reactive Principal · 15 min · Episode 150In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook Summer Reset Series, we explore the common patterns of the reactive principal and why so many school leaders feel stuck in a cycle of…
- The Principal Reset Series: The High-Achieving Principal · 17 min · Episode 149In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we continue the Principal Reset Series by exploring the mindset patterns of the High-Achieving Principal. While ambition and drive…
