Context:
Most school leaders were trained to be the chief problem-solver. The fixer. The one with the plan.
But this mindset creates a dangerous bottleneck …
When everything flows through you, everything waits on you.
Bad idea.
Why it matters:
When you position yourself in this way, your staff stops thinking critically. They stop innovating. They stop leading.
The unintended consequence?
You become essential… and exhausted.
The Reframe:
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about creating a culture where the best ideas win — no matter where they come from.
Ask better questions.
Make space for others to lead.
Say “I don’t know. What do you think?” more often.
You’ll build a school that thinks for itself.
You’ll build leaders who grow without you.
You’ll build something that lasts.
The best leaders don’t hoard answers. They multiply them.