When should a new leader start making changes?
Later than you think. The pressure to demonstrate decisive leadership is real, and it's a trap. Every new leader inherits a set of complaints from staff who've been waiting for someone to fix things. If you act on those complaints before you understand the full picture, you'll solve one person's problem while creating three new ones.
The general rule: spend the first few months observing, listening, and building relationships. Make operational improvements that clearly need doing — fix the broken copier, streamline the morning routine — but hold off on strategic changes until you have enough context to make them well.
The honeymoon period feels like it will last forever, but cracks reliably appear around six weeks in. The foundation you built during those early weeks determines whether you can navigate those cracks or get swallowed by them.
More on New Leader Entry
What should a new principal do in their first 100 days?
Gather information before taking action.
How should I conduct one-on-one meetings with staff as a new leader?
Meet with every staff member individually, early in your tenure.
How should I handle the transition from the previous leader?
Carefully, because you're inheriting a trust balance you didn't create.
How important is visibility on the first day of school?
It's the single most important thing you can do.
Answered by Justin Baeder, PhD, Director of The Principal Center and author of three books on instructional leadership.