Navigating the Principalship by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
Published: 2019-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

The responsibility dilemma adds to the complexity of managing the tasking time dilemma. Even so, principals rely on the strategy of prioritizing and planning despite the need to shift gears and abandon plans often. Perhaps the limits of the prioritization strategy explain why so many principals take a different tack, which we will look at next.

Embrace the Challenge and Savor the Rush

Despite the work overload and stress that comes with managing tasks and time, many principals report loving their jobs. With ultimate responsibility comes a sense of fulfillment and meaning. Nathan noted, "I think it's the best job, really. It's so much better than being an AP." Kathy expressed similar sentiments. Reflecting on her first five years on the job, she brought up how much she loves her role and how much she loves the community and the work she has committed to doing. She explained that some of the most satisfying days are the days when there is the most going on: "When there are a million things coming at me, in some ways, those are the days that I get the biggest rush out of." In a way, the quest for challenging work that draws so many to the principalship finds an answer in the ongoing management of task overload. It's a rush that principals find rewarding.

Reflecting on her first year on the job, Jennifer likened being a principal to "an adventure, because you never know what to expect. It's always thrilling, exciting, and engaging. It really is. I don't get a moment to sleep; I don't get a moment to sit down. That's what it's like—a nonstop adventure." Jennifer thrived on the excitement of ongoing challenge, even as she acknowledged that her planned work time was often interrupted by the unexpected. Then again, unpredictability is a key ingredient in any adventure.

Kathy summed up the situation when she noted that multitasking is central to the principal's role and part of what made the work thrilling for her. By embracing the energy that comes with juggling tasks and time, principals can reframe the unpredictability of the work as something to sustain their enthusiasm so that they thrive on the challenge. This enthusiasm helps to sustain them as they invest long hours in the work. Of course, embrace of this consuming work surfaces another dilemma for the principal—balancing work life and home life. Figuring out the calculus of fulfilling endless professional responsibilities while attending to personal and family obligations is a dilemma that principals continually strive to manage. We will talk more about this in the pages ahead.

Prioritizing and protecting particular times for work and embracing the challenges that come with the position are ways for principals to cope with the dilemmas associated with task overload and time shortage. By negotiating and renegotiating their schedules, setting boundaries around their work times, and connecting with the excitement they find in the position, they manage to make it work. At the same time, though, they must be careful that managing the tasking time does not infringe on their obligations to self and family.

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