The Match | Perspective
Word: Perspective
Sentence:
Perspective is not about how high you climb, but how clearly you see.
Passage:
In any profession, there are steps on the ladder. For me, it went from teacher to department chair to instructional coach to assistant principal to principal and now district leader. Each role came with more responsibility, but also a subtle risk. The higher I climbed, the smaller my perspective could become.
It is not like climbing a mountain, where the higher you go the more you see. In leadership, the view can actually narrow. You spend less time in classrooms or with students and more time in meetings, reports, and plans. Your team and your inner circle often shrink as you move up, and the honest feedback that once kept you grounded becomes harder to find.
It is easy to lose perspective. You can drift into ego when things are going well and lose your purpose when things go south.
Strong leaders work to keep their perspective as they rise. They find ways to stay connected to the people their decisions affect. For me, in my toughest moments as principal, I came back to two questions that almost always led me in the right direction.
Would this be good enough for my own child? If I were a teacher in this school, would I understand and support this decision?
Those two questions kept me grounded. They reminded me that leadership is not about hierarchy or control. It is about leading with those who matter most to your work and your mission. Whether it is clients, colleagues, or kids, we all need the questions that keep us centered on purpose and focused on progress.
When leaders lose perspective, tunnel vision sets in. Decisions become less informed, less human, and the organization suffers. But leaders who seek out multiple perspectives lead with empathy, make better choices, and create cultures where people feel seen and heard.
Perspective is not about seeing more. It is about seeing better.
Your Turn:
What questions do you ask yourself to keep your perspective clear?
Thank you for reading the Match!
Each week: One Word. One Sentence. One Passage.
4 Comments
Leave a Comment
About The Match Weekly
The Match Weekly is one of the ways I can help provide a small spark each week to help you lead with heart and keep your fire lit. It's sometimes all we need to keep going.
Get the spark by signing up
4 Comments
-
on November 13, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Chad! Speechless…I’m just speechless. This resonated with me deeply. I plan to share your weekly blog with my Masterclass through the Fund this weekend. Just time to reflect feels like a luxury. But, I am about to reclaim my time and schedule it!!! Thank you for inspiring me.
-
on November 14, 2025 at 7:53 am
Thank you for this! Especially, because I know the type of leader you are and how important the role is to you. I am really glad the word perspective landed with you. It is hard to hold a wide view when the work is heavy and the pace is fast. Reclaiming even a little time to step back is powerful. I am honored you plan to share it with your Masterclass. Keep taking that space for yourself, it will give you back more than it costs.
-
-
on November 17, 2025 at 11:51 am
Is this decision/action aligned to my personal, professional or mental health goals?
-
Those are great questions, and I especially appreciate the last part about mental health goals. You can say yes to everything that comes across your desk, but if you do, you risk losing yourself in the process.
The principalship is really about work–life integration, not balance. There’s no perfect split between the role and your life, it’s a constant push and pull. But if you don’t stay grounded in your personal and professional goals, the school’s needs will quickly take over your time, energy, and mental capacity.
Chad! Speechless…I’m just speechless. This resonated with me deeply. I plan to share your weekly blog with my Masterclass through the Fund this weekend. Just time to reflect feels like a luxury. But, I am about to reclaim my time and schedule it!!! Thank you for inspiring me.
Thank you for this! Especially, because I know the type of leader you are and how important the role is to you. I am really glad the word perspective landed with you. It is hard to hold a wide view when the work is heavy and the pace is fast. Reclaiming even a little time to step back is powerful. I am honored you plan to share it with your Masterclass. Keep taking that space for yourself, it will give you back more than it costs.
Is this decision/action aligned to my personal, professional or mental health goals?
Those are great questions, and I especially appreciate the last part about mental health goals. You can say yes to everything that comes across your desk, but if you do, you risk losing yourself in the process.
The principalship is really about work–life integration, not balance. There’s no perfect split between the role and your life, it’s a constant push and pull. But if you don’t stay grounded in your personal and professional goals, the school’s needs will quickly take over your time, energy, and mental capacity.