ABSTRACT
One of the hallmarks of effective principals is how they treat people. Like effective teachers, effective principals treat people with respect. Each of us can remember at least one occasion in our professional lives when someone in a leadership role treated us inappropriately. The same thing is true in our schools. One of the key responsibilities of an effective leader is to create a positive atmosphere. So many things can bring teachers down: an upset parent, a troubled student, limited resources. Nobody minds hearing praise. As a matter of fact, if we praise correctly it is impossible to praise too much. The principal who sets a positive tone can influence the interactions of everyone in the school. We must make sure we do this even when we least feel like it (and remember, praising others helps us to feel like it).
