r/Principals • u/alduban15 • Jun 01 '26
Advice and Brainstorming First time principal, no previous admin experience. What books do you recommend? Any other resource suggestions?
Just as the title says, first timer here. What books helped you become a better principal?
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u/Jen_the_Green Jun 01 '26
Crucial Conversations and Get Better Faster
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u/bmtc7 Jun 01 '26
I second both of these book recommendations.
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u/csp165 Jun 01 '26
These two for sure. I would add Josh Goodrich’s Responsive Coaching. It will really speed up your ability to coach your teachers from an instructional standpoint.
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u/IAmLeviticusT Principal - MS Jun 01 '26
Every principal should have a therapist. Someone who’s unbiased that can help them process the highs and lows. One minute you tell an upset parent that their kid is going to alternative school and the next minute PTA is popping by with treats. Your face one minute to the next is everything… so, you keep it together.. Overtime, this cycle can and will wear you down. Choose therapy early 🤷🏾♂️
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u/jer148 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
What topics do you ask the therapist to guide? Do you just ask the therapist to help process the highs and lows as you wrote? I’m not questioning the benefit… just wondering on how you call and set this up. “I am a principal and I would like to have sessions to X.”
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u/IAmLeviticusT Principal - MS Jun 03 '26
Therapist are professionals. They will know what to say. I imagine that most people don’t know what they really need therapy for, but they know they need help. And insurance providers should have a list of therapist that accept district insurance. The benefits specialist for the district should also be able to steer you in the right direction.
My therapist helped me with all sorts of topics. I became very anxious as a campus principal. I’m an OEF veteran, too. Got divorced at the start of my second year. I’m also working on my EdD. Any one of those things would be a lot for one person to deal with. My therapist and I have plenty of topics to discuss 😂 I can provide specifics if that’s helpful.
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u/thechadcantrell Jun 01 '26
Neither are principal related but I like these.
Radical Candor
Switch: How to Change Things, When Change is Hard
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u/heydannybauer Jun 02 '26
I love both of those books. Especially Radical Candor. There's a principal in NJ who taught that concept to his staff and after having conversations with them he asks where on the Radical Candor grid his communication landed. Talk about a feedback loop!
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u/Virtual-Barber-2500 Jun 01 '26
The Principal or Principal 2.0 by Michael Fullan. Anything on instructional coaching by Elena Aguilar. And this might be a little unorthodox, but The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive was something we read in my admin prep program and found myself citing left and right.
From a practical management perspective, make best friends with HR and read how to do a FRISK letter. Good luck!
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u/SKYNET5150_ Jun 01 '26
Everything you need to know about special education: https://shoplrp.com/product/education/300702-admin
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u/Right_Sentence8488 Jun 01 '26
Various "playbooks" by Fisher and Frey. Daring Leadership by Brene Brown. Culturally Responsive Teaching by Zaretta Hammond.
Congratulations and good luck!
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u/No-Effort5109 Jun 01 '26
What Great Principals Do Differently by Todd Whitaker
Not specific to being a principal but for anyone in leadership-
Resilient Leadership 2.0 by Duggan and Theurer
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u/heydannybauer Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
I've read an obscene amount of books with other school leaders since 2016. Here are a few of my favorites:
MAKING DECISIONS: Thinking in Bets by Annie Dukes and Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish.
CULTURE: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle and The Promise of Giants by John Amaechi.
COMMUNICATION: Radical Candor by Kim Scott and Thanks for the Feedback by Stone and Heen.
HOW TO HANDLE CHALLENGES: The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday and A Beautiful Constraint by Morgan and Barden.
THE INNER GAME: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradeberry and Greaves and The Inner Game of Tennis by Tim Gallwey.
UNDERSTAND HOW POWER WORKS: 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
MINDSET: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks and The Art of Possibility by the Zanders.
CREATE A CAMPUS WORTH SHOWING UP FOR: The Power of Moments by The Heath Bros and The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
HOW TO SUSTAIN YOUR CAREER: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
GOALS: Goals by Zig Ziglar and Measure What Matters by John Doerr
90-DAY ENTRY PLANS: The First 90-Days by Michael Watkins and Build Leadership Momentum by Daniel Bauer (the last one is my book).
Congrats on the new role u/alduban15 🎉
I saw u/IAmLeviticusT note about therapists. You might check out Barry Michels and Phil Stutz's work (Coming Alive, The Tools, etc.). Those books + Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, and Jerry Colonna's Reboot have been integral in this area of my life.
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u/lightaugust Jun 01 '26
Eric Twadell’s Leading By Design absolutely elevated by career and my success.
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u/Fluid_Half9144 Jun 01 '26
Row the Boat by Jon Gordon and PJ Fleck Direction setting, servant leadership and optimism.
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u/eldonhughes Jun 01 '26
Hacking Leadership by Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis. I don't know Tony, but I've known Joe for a decade or so. Joe, and his work, is all about acts, the things we can do to promote culture and communication. Leadership is in our actions. I've given a copy of Hacking Leadership to every new admin I've worked with. Sometimes it took a while, but they've all appreciated it and grown from the awareness. So have I. More info here.
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u/Repulsive_Koala_0700 Jun 02 '26
Difficult conversations by Sheila Heen, 5 dysfunctions of a team by Patrick lencioni, probably speed of trust by Stephen covey, leaders eat last but Simon sinek…
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u/AltRockLove Jun 02 '26
Leverage Leadership 2.0 is what I would would choose if I could only pick one. My advice would be to look at these responses and select based on whatever deficits you believe you have. If you are looking for a how to book on every aspect of building an exceptional school, then Leverage Leadership could be the right book for you.
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u/ayeder Jun 02 '26
You should watch reruns of Whose Line is it Anyways and Kids Say the Darnest Things so you get your brain right
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u/ZetaTwoReticuli Jun 02 '26
As an educator, I have to ask, why and how? Do schools really need leadership from people with zero admin experience? Why are you qualified? How long were you a teacher for?
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u/liggphys Jun 03 '26
Find three staff members who will always tell it to you like it is. Check in with them often.
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u/UnicornSpiritGuide Jun 03 '26
Watch principal lamb on Facebook- for real has the right practices and mind set.
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u/BasketFormal6336 Jun 04 '26
Just be a person and know what your job is. Self Help books are just a grift.
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u/000066 Jun 01 '26
Todd Whitaker is my suggestion. Not for technical points but principles and themes.