ABSTRACT
Principals’ actions play a key role in developing and sustaining relational trust. Principals establish both trust and personal regard when they acknowledge the vulnerabilities of others, actively listen to their concerns and eschew arbitrary actions. Effective principals couple these behaviors with a compelling school vision and behavior that clearly seeks to advance the vision. This consistency between words and actions affirms their personal integrity. Then, if the principal competently manages basic day-to-day school affairs, an overall ethos conducive to the formation of trust will emerge.
