ABSTRACT
A lack of candor is an organizational issue that isn’t new, unique, or specific to schools. O’Toole and Bennis called for greater transparency among organizational leaders to meet the growing complexities and demands of industry in 2009. In 2013, Whitaker, a prolific and accepted educational expert, extended his previous work on “15 Things” to “18 Things That Matter Most” for principals. Included are aspects of leadership like treating everyone with respect and creating a culture of change. Success in schools is driven by a culture that embraces the big three: informal frequent structures for feedback, a candid communication structure for shared decision-making, and teacher leadership as the backbone. But, all three can be trapped in a circle of nice if the culture isn’t one of trust and candor. Organizations can thrive when candor and compassion are part of the fabric for communicating.
