Authority and Incentives

It is no wonder that success as a principal hinges on the ability to unite and focus rather than command and control. 

School leaders do not have the range of authority of industry CEOs. CEOs can declare new operating routines and schedules, quickly hire/fire, offer incentives, and give promotions and raises. Principals are also not at the head of a pyramid where supervision is in a ratio of 1 to 5 or 1 to 8. They are in charge of teachers who often work individually and see themselves as solo practitioners rather than working in side-by-side teams and being members of an organization.