Tag: Management

Managing leadership priorities is part of the job, but it can also drain you. A school leader carries competing demands, shifting deadlines, and constant interruptions. Without a clear approach, important tasks get delayed or missed. This post shares practical “truths” that help you stay focused and steady.

“Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.” – Peter Drucker

Why Managing Leadership Priorities Feels Hard

Schools do not run in a straight line. A routine day can change in minutes. When you hold responsibility for people, learning, safety, and operations, the workload expands quickly.

Managing leadership priorities works best when you accept two realities.

• You cannot do everything today.

• You can still lead well with a clear plan.

Understand Your Limits

Knowing your limits is not weakness. It is a leadership skill. It helps you avoid overcommitting and making rushed decisions.

Start by naming your pressure points.

• What drains your energy fastest?

• Which tasks take you longer than they should?

• Where do you keep saying “yes” out of habit?

Once you see the pattern, you can act on it.

Focus On What You Can Do Well

You are responsible for the whole school, but you cannot personally deliver every task. Your time is limited, so your attention must be selective.

Choose work that only you can do, or that you do best. Then create space for others to do their part. This is a key move in managing leadership priorities.

Look For Support, Not Heroics

Support is not a sign you are failing. It is how complex organisations function well. There are two simple benefits.

Share the Load Through Delegation

If someone else can do a task, delegate it. Your role is to get things done, not to do everything. Todd Whitaker’s idea in Shifting the Monkey is useful here: avoid taking on work that belongs to someone else.

Delegation works best when it is clear.

• State the outcome you need.

• Set a deadline.

• Agree on the next check-in.

Get Good Advice From Peers

Peer support keeps you grounded. A short call with another leader can help you test your thinking and avoid poor choices made under stress.

This is not networking for its own sake. It is professional problem-solving. Shared communication is an asset when managing leadership priorities.

Stay Steady in Public

People watch the leader when pressure rises. Your tone sets the temperature. That does not mean pretending everything is fine. It means showing calm control.

A useful reminder from sport is: do not broadcast panic. Lead with steadiness, even when the day is hard.

Be Organised With a Simple System

Use whatever system you will actually maintain. A notebook, a digital task list, or a wall planner all work if you use them daily.

When deciding whether to take on a task, ask two questions.

• What will happen if I do this?

• What will happen if I do not?

Your answers help you sort urgency from importance. This is a practical anchor for managing leadership priorities.

Prioritise Tasks and Schedule Time

Do not rely on memory. Put tasks into time blocks. Decide what needs attention now and what can wait.

Some leaders like “eat the frog first” and start with the hardest job. Others prefer quick wins to build momentum. Either way, pick a method and stick to it.

Keep the Promise

In a busy school, it is easy to say, “I will get to that shortly.” When you do, your credibility is on the line. If you promise feedback, follow through. If you cannot, reset the expectation early.

Reliability reduces friction and builds trust. It also makes managing leadership priorities easier because fewer issues boomerang back to you.

Be Kind to Yourself

Some things will fail, even with strong effort. Some problems will sit outside your control. That is part of leading schools.

End the day with perspective. Learn what you can, then let it go. Tomorrow gives you another chance to lead with clarity.

Managing leadership priorities is not about doing more. It is about choosing well, delegating with intent, and protecting your energy so you can lead consistently.