Why Most New School Leaders Fail After the Interview

Most school leaders prepare to answer interview questions... but leadership isn’t about answers. It’s about making decisions under pressure. 

CHAPTERS

01:38 – The 3 Skills Interviews Don’t Test

01:42 – Key #1: From Answering Questions to Making Decisions

07:49 – Key #2: Leading Adults (Not Just Managing Tasks)

13:42 – Key #3: Build Your Leadership Identity Before the Title

18:04 – The Real Risk of Stepping Into Leadership Unprepared

Interviews won’t test how you:

• Lead adults

• Navigate resistance

• Make hard calls with no perfect option

• Stay grounded when emotions and politics show up

That’s why so many new leaders struggle after they get hired.

In this episode, I break down what real leadership readiness looks like beyond the interview... and why clarity, decision-making, and influence matter more than polished responses.

If you’re serious about stepping into school leadership prepared, confident, and respected, this is the work that must happen before the title.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------About Dr. Donovan Smalls II:

An assistant principal, best-selling author, and school leadership coach dedicated to helping aspiring & early-career school leaders close readiness gaps, strengthen instructional leadership, and build sustainable systems that improve teacher effectiveness.

📕 Grab my book, Beyond the Classroom → https://shorturl.at/74Bgy 

👉🏾 1:1 leadership coaching to help aspiring school leaders prepare for interviews and transition confidently into leadership roles: https://donovansmalls2.com/coaching

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If you’re preparing for leadership interviews and want strategic interview prep or leadership coaching, reach out and let’s have a conversation.

Streaming on:

📺 YouTube 🔗 https://urlgeni.us/youtube/channel/L0Y2m 

🎧 Apple Podcasts 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/mv7f683k 

🎧 Spotify 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/4wydt4nr 

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