Walk the hallways first

By Herman M. Lagon

When the title becomes yours—principal, director, or president—remember this: people may hear your speeches, but they will believe only your walk. Leadership doesn’t live in programs or papers—it lives in the hallways. The smell of chalk and coffee tells more stories than any speech can. Be there often. Be early. Be kind. When students, teachers, staff, parents, and alumni see you sitting in the lounge or talking with them by the gate, they don’t see a position; they see a person who leads with heart.

Walk your talk. Good school leaders don’t need to talk much—their calm presence already speaks volumes. A smile for the guard or a quiet visit to a class says, “Your work matters.” When you share pancit canton with the maintenance crew or quietly thank the registrar after a long enrollment day, you’re building bridges stronger than any memo. As leadership coach Maxine Driscoll (2023) puts it, visibility and authenticity are the foundation of trust—and trust is the quiet fuel of every thriving school.

Care, don’t just command or evaluate. Cura personalis—care for the whole person—isn’t a fancy motto to print on banners; it’s a daily discipline. Protect your teachers. Give fair loads, clear pay steps, and opportunities for growth. Offer systemic mentoring that feels personal, not perfunctory. Support small innovations and research works with small grants or big encouragement. Make wellness breaks real, not ceremonial. And always let “thank you” come before “why didn’t you.” As Driscoll reminds new heads, people stay not because of fear or titles, but because they feel trusted, supported, and seen.

Listen deeply and often. The best ideas don’t bloom in boardrooms but in simple kumustahans over iced tea or chats in hallways. Let everyone—from parent to janitor, from students to alumni—feel heard. Ask, “What’s making your work harder these days?” and mean it. Leadership experts from New Leaders (2024) call this “global listening”—hearing not just words but emotions, pauses, and tone. Listening builds relationships faster than any campaign. Transparency, fairness, and consistency—not noise—quiet politics and burn away the ‘sipsip’ culture within.

Lead with discernment. Choose the magis—the greater good that helps the most people. Paint the walls if you must, but prioritize scholarships over signage, social justice over ROI, teacher development over publicity, and community partnerships over press releases. Penrose (2024) reminds new principals to honor the culture they inherit before changing it. Observe what already works. Ask before you act. Reform grounded in respect lasts longer than reform born of ego. Great leadership is not about making an impression but making an improvement.

Use technology wisely, not blindly. Today’s learners study in two worlds—onsite and online. Let tech connect, not divide. Encourage supervisors and teachers to use AI and apps with empathy, and help students think beyond screens. The best leaders lead with both heart and hardware.

Celebrate small wins. Visit science fairs, student exhibits, educational trips, research fora, work immersions, and barangay outreach programs. Sit in on retreats or cheer in the intrams from the sidelines. Join games or dance at the Christmas and acquaintance parties, even if you look ridiculous doing it. Schools run on people, not paperwork. When a leader laughs with the faculty or praises a student’s effort, morale soars. New Leaders (2024) stresses overcommunication—revisiting goals, celebrating progress, emailing updates, and sharing gratitude repeatedly. Small celebrations multiply energy. Joy, after all, is a leadership strategy shared by all.

But leadership isn’t just for the bright days—it’s tested when clouds gather. Be present when things get hard. When floods rise, systems fail, or tempers flare, show up. Sit beside your people, not above them. Carry chairs if you must. In tough times, what people remember isn’t speeches—it’s who showed up. During the pandemic, leaders who stayed visible kept spirits up. You can correct errors, but not silence. Presence builds loyalty faster than perks.

Stay humble enough to admit mistakes and apologize, if needed. No one gets this job perfectly. Reflect daily: What worked? What failed? Whose voice did I miss? Leadership reflection is not a ritual—it’s maintenance. Penrose (2024) calls it the “North Star” habit—aligning purpose with action. When leaders keep learning, others follow. Humility lights the path better than pride.

There’s quiet hope for new leaders—humble, curious, open, and grounded. Those who listen before deciding and lead with heart and reason. As Driscoll says, real success is leaving your school better than you found it. Walk your talk. Lead with love and courage. Keep your heart open to both tradition and technology. Because when care becomes your leadership language, people won’t just follow you—they’ll walk with you. AMDG+.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ‘student of and for life’ who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.