I was listening to the audiobook version of “Judgement” by Bennis and Tichy while driving between schools today and they started into a long conversation about how great leaders all have great visions. It made me wonder about my own approach to vision in terms of becoming a principal. It seems that everything I have been reading has repeatedly stated the importance of having a vision for the school. I can understand why vision is important as it drives the agenda of the school and I have been repeatedly drilled on how to create shared vision through my master’s process. Yet what I really wonder what the challenge is to create a vision in the face of so many external pressures on a school.

I find the literature draws a picture of a principal on a bench on a warm sunny day coming up with a wonderful vision for their school that is both well thought out and addresses the needs of all staff. From my own experience I have never seen a principal sitting on that bench. More often than not the principal is working hard to just keep the school running in the face of pressure from all of the constituents of the school. When is the visioning process occurring? Working in a state that the governor cycles on two year terms, there is a possibility that the agenda for schools in New Hampshire could change regularly. How can a principal create the type of vision espoused by the literature when things change everyday?

I also wonder about the interview process where the prospective candidate is asked the question about their vision for the school. Obviously it is difficult to give a complete answer about a school that may not yet be a complete picture, but in order to present the best face as a candidate it is required that one must have a good idea.

Any thoughts out there?

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