The Principal's Handbook

Clarity is a Leadership Skill with Casey Watts

In this episode, Barb talks with leadership expert Casey Watts about why clarity—not effort—is often what’s missing when initiatives stall or staff buy-in fades. Casey shares how her Clarity Cycle Framework helps leaders align expectations, transfer ownership, and create follow-through without adding more to their plates. They explore how unclear roles fuel overwhelm, why resistance is often a clarity issue, and how “painting done” leads to stronger leadership and better results. This episode is a must-listen for principals who want more alignment, less frustration, and a clearer focus in their leadership.Find Casey on her website catchingupwithcasey.com or LinkedIn.

Rethinking the Open Door Policy as a Principal

Does being a great principal mean being available all day, every day? In this episode, Barb challenges the traditional “open door policy” and the idea of people over paperwork and shares a more sustainable way to lead. Because when you’re constantly available, the work doesn’t disappear… it just follows you home. You’ll learn how focus blocks, visibility, and clear boundaries actually make you more supportive, not less,  while protecting your time, energy, and family life. If you’re tired of staying late and wondering why the work never ends, this conversation will help you lead with intention instead of urgency.Sign up for The 8 to 4 Principal Group Coaching Intensive on February 7th and you will get a free one-on-one coaching session.

Three Common Mistakes Principals Make Around Time Management

This episode breaks down three common time management mistakes that quietly keep principals overwhelmed and stretched too thin. It explains how unrealistic self-expectations, weak or missing systems, and a constant focus on urgency instead of priorities drain time and energy.The takeaway is that better time management isn’t about working harder, it’s about setting sustainable expectations, building systems that reduce reactivity, and intentionally protecting time for the leadership work that actually moves a school forward.If you’re ready to stop reacting all day and start leading with intention, join The 8 to 4 Principal Group Coaching Intensive starting February 8th and learn how to reclaim your time without sacrificing impact.Follow me on Instagram @DrBarbFlowers and TikTok @The8to4Principal

Why You’re Still Working After 4 — and How to Fix It

You’re still working late not because you lack motivation or discipline, but because the workday is built around constant interruptions and urgency. When everything feels immediate, it pulls you into a reaction cycle that pushes real leadership work to nights and weekends.The key shift is learning to separate true emergencies from noise, setting clear decision rules for what can wait, and anchoring your day around a few priorities before the building takes over. Ending the day intentionally—rather than when everything is finished—helps break the habit of carrying work home.Lasting change comes from adjusting both structure and mindset, so leaving on time becomes part of how you lead, not something you feel guilty about.

Leading Through Burnout: What Principals Can Do When You're Exhausted

Are you leading your school while secretly running on empty? In this episode, we’re diving into what principal burnout really looks like—and what you can do when you’re exhausted but still expected to lead with clarity, confidence, and calm. Whether you’re already feeling the weight of constant interruptions, decision fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, or you want to prevent burnout before it takes hold, this episode will help you reset. Barb breaks down burnout warning signs, the six burnout profiles she sees most often in principals, and three high-impact resets you can implement this week to reclaim your energy and protect your time.You’ll learn how to set simple, realistic boundaries, build protected work blocks into your day, and use the TEA Cycle to shift the thoughts fueling your overwhelm. Barb also shares strategies for rebuilding your mental and physical energy—so you can reconnect to the parts of leadership you actually love. If you want practical tools for recovering from or preventing burnout, this episode is your roadmap back to feeling grounded, capable, and in control again.Check out The Principal's Burnout Toolkit