My Top 5 Ways Leaders Can Stay Focused
As school leaders, we often begin the day with the best intentions. You plan to be in classrooms, spend time in the hallways engaging with students and staff, and focus on the tasks that matter most. But all too often, those plans are derailed by meetings, crises, or unexpected events that take us away from the work that truly moves the needle.
I’ve been there myself. As a high school principal, I regularly found my days consumed by things I never planned for. It felt like the harder I tried to stay focused, the more external factors pulled me off task. I would start the day with goals, but by the time the final bell rang, I realized that I hadn’t accomplished any of the important work I’d set out to do.
That all changed when I started working with a coach. He helped me understand that keeping my eye on what matters most wasn’t just a vague leadership principle—it required intentionality, strategy, and boundaries. I learned how to reclaim my time, delegate responsibilities, and stay focused on the bigger picture.
Here are five key techniques I’ve used to help me—and other school leaders—keep the main thing the main thing.
1. Get Crystal Clear on Your Priorities
The first step to staying focused on the main thing is knowing what the main thing actually is. This might sound simple, but many leaders struggle with identifying their core priorities. We get caught up in the urgent tasks that pop up throughout the day and lose sight of the larger goals that truly matter.
As a school leader, it’s crucial to identify your top priorities for the year, the month, and even the week. Ask yourself: What are the three most important things I need to focus on? For many leaders, this could be improving instructional practices, supporting teacher development, or creating a more positive school culture. Whatever your priorities are, write them down and use them as your North Star for decision-making.
2. Master the Art of Delegation
One of the hardest lessons I learned as a principal was that I didn’t have to do everything myself. As leaders, we often feel like we have to be the one to solve every problem or handle every task. But that mindset only leads to burnout and keeps you from focusing on the work that truly matters.
Delegation isn’t about offloading work—it’s about empowering your team. Trust your assistant principals, teacher leaders, and office staff to take on tasks that don’t require your direct input. The more you delegate, the more time you free up to focus on strategic leadership and long-term goals. When I began to delegate, I found I had more mental bandwidth for the big-picture work that had been slipping through the cracks.
3. Guard Your Calendar Fiercely
Your calendar is one of your most powerful tools for keeping the main thing the main thing. When I worked with my coach, one of the first things he helped me do was block out time for my top priorities. I started scheduling time each week for classroom walkthroughs, leadership team meetings, and strategic planning. Once that time was blocked, I treated it as sacred.
This requires saying “no” to distractions and requests that don’t align with your priorities. Of course, some emergencies are unavoidable, but the key is not to let the small distractions chip away at your time. Treat your calendar like a contract with yourself, and guard it fiercely.
4. Develop Systems for Routine Tasks
Routine tasks can eat up a huge chunk of your day if you don’t have systems in place to manage them efficiently. Whether it’s responding to emails, managing staff requests, or handling administrative paperwork, these tasks can easily pull you off track.
Develop systems to streamline your daily operations. For example, set specific times during the day to check and respond to emails. Automate tasks when possible or assign them to staff members who can handle them. The more systems you have in place, the less time you’ll spend on routine tasks, leaving you with more time to focus on what really matters.
5. Reflect and Adjust Regularly
The final strategy to keep the main thing the main thing is to regularly reflect on how well you’re staying aligned with your priorities. As a school leader, it’s easy to fall back into reactive mode, especially during busy times. Schedule time for reflection at the end of each week to assess how well you stayed focused and what distractions got in the way.
This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about staying mindful. If you find yourself getting pulled off task repeatedly, take the time to adjust your systems or ask for help. Reflection helps you stay on course and make small adjustments to keep you moving toward your bigger goals.
Final Thoughts
Keeping the main thing the main thing as a school leader takes discipline, intentionality, and strategic delegation. By clarifying your priorities, guarding your time, and empowering your team, you can focus on the work that matters most. Remember, great leaders don’t get caught up in the noise—they block it out and keep their eyes on the goal.
What strategies are you using to stay focused on the main thing? Share your insights by commenting on this post. What a great way to help each other take on, and win, against the overwhelm of being principal. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Have a #RoadToAwesome week
Darrin
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