The Real Reason Your Open Door Policy Isn’t Working

OFF CAMPUS

• 🎧 Calm Presence: An award winning principal talks strategy, intentional presence, and building team capacity. Listen to the pod here.

• 🙈 Head in the sand: Not sure this logic holds up. Plus it makes teachers crazy. Do you say this?

• 🧹 Insane: Principal fires custodian for making school to clean. Get the dirt here.

• 🔮 Predict the future: Right now you are choosing between two different futures. Do you choose Future 1 or Future 2? Join this engaging conversation on LinkedIn.

DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

You're Not Running for Prom Queen. You're Running a School.

Every minute you waste trying to be liked is a minute stolen from the kid who needs you to be brave.

Here's what nobody tells you at those mind-numbing district meetings:

If your staff throws you a surprise party every Friday, you're probably failing your students.

Real leadership isn't about collecting Facebook likes. Leadership isn't about getting invited to the teacher's lounge birthday club.

Leadership is about making the gutsy calls that actually move the needle for kids.

And sometimes? That means being the bad guy.

Why Your "Open Door" Policy is Actually a Revolving Door to Nowhere

Most principals treat their job like a popularity contest. They're so busy trying to be everyone's bestie that they forget why they're actually there.

Here's what the Play-It-Safe-Principal handbook won't tell you:

Saying "yes" to everything is saying "no" to excellence.

When you try to please everyone, you end up with:

• Watered-down initiatives that don't move the needle

• Teachers who learn to work the system instead of work the kids

• A campus culture where mediocrity gets a participation trophy

Sound familiar?

The Brutal Truth About Being "Nice"

Let me paint you a picture:

Principal Sarah has an "open door" policy. She prides herself on being approachable. Teachers love her because she never rocks the boat.

Fast forward 3 years:

• Test scores? (Flat)

• Teacher innovation? (Non-existent)

• Student engagement? (Still at "counting ceiling tiles" levels)

But hey, at least she got voted "Most Likely to Bring Donuts" at the staff meeting

🍩 🍩 🍩 🍩 🍩 🍩 🍩 🍩

Meanwhile, down the street, Principal Marcus made some waves. He said "no" to the 47th fundraiser request. He redirected that energy into a maker space. Some teachers grumbled.

His results?

• Students literally running to school (not because of bad behavior, but ownership)

• Teachers collaborating like it's their job (because it is)

• A waiting list of families trying to get in (imagine that)

Guess which principal is building a legacy?

The Ruckus Maker's Guide to Strategic Unpopularity

Here's how to stop being a people-pleaser and start being a game-changer:

1. Replace "I'll think about it" with "Here's my decision framework"

• Stop pretending to consider every request

• Create clear criteria for yes/no decisions

• Share the criteria in public

2. Master the Art of the Productive "No"

• "I love your enthusiasm. Here's why this doesn't align with our current focus..."

• "That's an interesting idea. Let's revisit it after we nail our current initiative."

• "I hear you. And here's what we're doing instead..."

3. Make Your Reasoning Transparent (Even When It Stings)

• Document your decision-making process

• Share it before people ask

• Stand behind it when they complain

4. Build Trust Through Consistency, Not Compliance

• Same rules for everyone (yes, even your work bestie)

• Follow through on what you say (you want to build trust, right?)

• Admit when you're wrong (but don't apologize for being firm)

Here's the Plot Twist...

The teachers who initially resist your "no" often become your biggest champions.

Why?

Because deep down, everyone wants to work for someone with a backbone. Someone who'll protect their time. Someone who'll fight for what matters.

They don't need another friend.

They need a leader who'll help them become legendary educators.

Your Respect > Their Likes

Think about the best boss you ever had. Were they your drinking buddy? Did they let you slack off?

Or were they the one who pushed you, challenged you, and made you better than you thought possible?

That's the principal you need to be.

Because here's what I know after working with thousands of school leaders:

Students and staff don't need popular principals. They need principals with spine.

Time to Make a Choice

You can keep playing the popularity game. Keep saying yes to every committee, every fundraiser, every "great idea" that walks through your door.

Or you can join the Ruckus Makers who've figured out that true influence comes from having standards, not from having everyone's approval.

The Ruckus Maker Mastermind isn't for everyone. We consistently reject applicants because they're not ready to Do School Different.

But if you're done playing small... If you're ready to be the leader your students deserve... If you can handle being misunderstood today to be celebrated tomorrow...

Then apply now.

We accept exactly 10 new members throughout the year. (Four joined in the last two weeks).

So what is it going to be?

Another year of playing nice, or finally becoming the leader you imagined when you first got your keys.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Make Your NO Feel Like a YES

Saying NO doesn’t have to disappoint. It can clarify, respect, and even empower.

Here's how to decline without derailing the relationship:

Instead of: “I can’t meet right now.”

Try: “I want to give this the attention it deserves … let’s find a time tomorrow when I’m fully present.”

Instead of: “That’s not my priority.”

Try: “Right now, I’m focused on X. Let’s revisit this when it aligns.”

Instead of: “I don’t have time for this.”

Try: “I want to support you, and I know I’d drop the ball if I said yes today. Let’s talk about a timeline that works.”

Instead of: “That’s not my job.”

Try: “That actually falls under [person/team’s] lane. They’re the best onesto help you move this forward.”

Instead of: “No, I’m not doing that.”

Try: “To protect time for our biggest priorities, I’m saying no to anything that doesn’t directly support our goals. This falls outside of that.”

ALBA