It’s All Your Fault (and That’s the Good News)

If you’re a school leader and something goes wrong, it’s your fault. Always.

“Leadership isn’t about blame or dodging responsibility. If you can’t take it on the chin, don’t get into the ring.” Dr. Howard Stribbell

School leaders often inherit messes they didn’t create — failing programs, unhappy staff, unrealistic budgets, decreasing student numbers… and don’t even mention the skeletons in the closet that the board forget to tell you about. The temptation is to point fingers: The last Head did this… The board tied my hands… My staff didn’t follow through.

Here’s the reality: none of that matters. If it’s happening on your watch, it’s yours.

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about power. When you take ownership, you put yourself in the driver’s seat. If you’re responsible, you also have the authority to change it. Blame is passive. Ownership is active.

The most effective leaders don’t waste time cataloging why things went wrong. They don’t waste time trying to find out who dropped the ball. They move straight to: What am I going to do about it?

Reflection:

• Where in my school am I still pointing fingers?
  
• What’s one problem I could take full ownership of this week?
• Am I strong enough to own this for my team?