10 ways elite principals crush their first 90 days (while others crash and burn)

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10 Ways Elite Principals Crush Their First 90 Days (While Others Crash and Burn)

Picture this: Day one as principal. The keys are yours, but so are 3,482 problems on your desk.

While most new leaders are drowning in their first 90 days, an elite group is transforming struggling schools into success stories. Not by working crazy hours or getting special district training, but by ditching the "figure it out as you go" mindset.

Their secret? A strategic entry plan that turns chaos into clarity.

Here's the 10-step framework they use to crush their first 90 days:

They Build Trust at Warp Speed

Most principals try to win people over with grand promises. Big mistake.

Elite leaders instead:

• Schedule structured listening sessions

• Make staff feel heard before making changes

• Build credibility through small, consistent wins

The result? Staff who trust your judgment because you proved you'd earn it first.

They Avoid Decision Fatigue Like the Plague

The average principal makes 300+ decisions per day.

Instead of drowning in choices, top performers:

• Use decision-making frameworks

• Prioritize what actually moves the needle

• Delegate everything else

Think of it as your leadership GPS – knowing exactly where to focus when everything feels important.

They Create Momentum That Actually Sticks

Remember Newton's First Law? Objects in motion stay in motion.

Smart principals:

• Identify quick wins in week one

• Build on small successes

• Create visible progress that energizes staff

Pro tip: Your first victory should be solving a problem teachers actually care about, not just district metrics.

They Dodge Career-Killing Landmines

While most new principals step on every political landmine possible, the best ones:

• Map the informal power structure

• Identify unwritten rules

• Learn which battles are worth fighting

One principal told me: "I saved myself years of headaches by spending my first month just mapping relationships."

They Align Their School Like a Fortune 500 Company

Instead of vague mission statements, top performers:

• Create clear, actionable goals

• Get buy-in at every level

• Make expectations crystal clear

The result? A school that runs like a well-oiled machine, not a chaotic circus.

They Master the Communication Game

The best principals know: You can't overcommunicate during transition.

Their playbook:

• Weekly staff updates

• Regular parent newsletters

• Consistent student check-ins

• Clear protocols for emergencies

Remember: In the absence of communication, people assume the worst.

They Make Decisions That Actually Stick

While others shoot from the hip, elite principals:

• Gather data before acting

• Build support for changes

• Create systems for follow-through

One Ruckus Maker told me: "My predecessor made better decisions than me. But mine actually happened because I built support first."

They Turn Staff Into True Believers

The math is simple: Happy teachers = Better learning = Successful school

Top performers:

• Schedule regular 1-on-1s

• Remove obstacles to teaching

• Celebrate small wins publicly

They Build a Parent Army

While most principals hide from parents, the best ones:

• Create multiple feedback channels

• Show up where parents already gather

• Turn critics into champions

As one leader put it: "Parents are either your biggest headache or your strongest allies. You choose."

They Create Systems That Outlast Them

Average principals focus on surviving the day. Elite principals build for the future by:

• Creating repeatable processes

• Documenting what works

• Training others to maintain momentum

The Truth About Your First 90 Days

Your school's trajectory for the next 3-5 years will be set in your first 90 days.

You can either:

• Wing it and hope for the best

• Or use a proven framework that's already working

The 90-Day Accelerator will open for enrollment once in 2025 later this month.

Join the waitlist below to be first in line when we announce it’s opening.