ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors discuss the concepts of human and social capital and how they are essential to understanding why building positive relationships can be beneficial for the school, the school's mission, and the principal. They offer principals practical strategies to use in gathering information about the existing human and social resources in the school and how best to use and build on those resources. The authors provide suggested activities principals that can use in building relationships—teachers with teachers and principals with teachers. Principals are often asked to nominate, recommend, or appoint representatives to projects initiated by the school system. Individual interviews conducted either throughout the school year or during the summer are additional sources of information. Much like schedules, faculty meetings are part of every school year. Because they already exist, making use of them as mechanisms for intentionally building relationships seems obvious.
