Do you feel like office referrals are taking up all your time, leaving you with little to no opportunity to lead your school effectively? In this episode of The Principal's Handbook, Barb shares five actionable steps that can help reduce office referrals and give you more time in your day. She draws from her own experience as a principal, where she successfully decreased office referrals from 340 to 180 in a school year.

By implementing a few key strategies, including tracking behaviors, utilizing a behavior team, creating a behavior matrix, empowering teachers to call parents, and using restorative practices, Barb explains how you can foster a more positive school environment and reclaim your time.

Download her free Behavior Blueprint for Principals for detailed resources and tools to support you in making these changes. Tune in to find out how you can take these steps to make your school a more efficient and harmonious place.

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

Do you ever feel like you struggle to mentor an assistant principal? In this episode, Barb speaks with Principal Mark Schwarz about his journey from assistant principal to principal and how his experience mentoring assistant principals has shaped his leadership approach. Mark reflects on the lessons he learned as an assistant principal and the strategies he now uses to mentor his own assistant principal. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication, setting expectations, and fostering trust, both with staff and within the leadership team. Mark shares his approach to emotional regulation, managing difficult situations, and providing guidance to help assistant principals feel valued and empowered in their roles. Tune in for insights on how principals can successfully mentor assistant principals to build strong leadership teams and create a positive school culture.

Connect with Mark on Linkedin.

Email Mark- [email protected]

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

Do you feel like you’ve got one foot in this school year and the other in the next? If your to-do list feels like a juggling act between wrapping up and planning ahead, you’re not alone. In this episode, Barb shares three practical tips to help you finish the current school year strong—and three smart strategies to start preparing for next year with intention and clarity.

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
Behavior Blueprint for Principals

The Principal’s Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

In this episode Barb is talking about if work-life balance is possible for principals. Barb also shares about her BETA membership that is only $17 for a limited time. Click HERE to join! 

What if you could actually leave work every day at 4 p.m.? Have you ever wished for better work-life balance — but felt like it just isn’t possible as a principal? Maybe you’ve told yourself you have to be the first one to arrive and the last one to leave.

But what if there’s another way?

In this episode, we’re doing a powerful reflection on your school year. I’ll walk you through questions that help you evaluate how you spent your time, whether your daily schedule matches the life you want, and what changes might help you move toward a healthier, more sustainable leadership model. It’s time to rethink what’s possible — and start imagining a workday that ends at 4:00.

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
The Principal's Power Hour Blueprint

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

Do you feel the pressure of perfectionism taking over? You’re not alone. Many principals I coach struggle with the need to do everything right. In this episode, I dive into the hidden cost of perfectionism—also known as the stickler saboteur from Positive Intelligence—and how it can quietly sabotage your performance, relationships, and well-being. Plus, I share mindset shifts to help you start reframing perfectionism in your leadership journey.

Take the free Saboteur Assessment here.

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

In this episode of The Principal's Handbook, Barb discussed the 'Principal's Email Detox,' a free resource designed to help school leaders manage email overload. Barb addresses the common challenge of email addiction among principals, highlighting the negative impact of constant email checking on wellbeing and productivity. She shares practical steps to detox from email, including removing email from your phone, setting clear expectations with staff, gradually reducing after-hour email checks, establishing scheduled email blocks during school hours, and prioritizing alternative communication methods. Tune in to regain control of your time and model healthy work-life boundaries for your school community.

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
The Principal's Email Detox
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

Do you struggle with wanting to control situations as a principal? Is it hard for you to release control? In this episode we are exploring how principals can use Mel Robbins' Let Them Theory to release control and focus on what is in our direct circle of influence. Join us as we dive into why we often feel an anxiety-based need to take charge, the costs of excessive control on school culture, and practical strategies to shift your leadership approach.

We'll explore real-world examples of the Let Them Theory in action—from curriculum implementation to parent interactions—and provide a framework for determining what truly falls within your sphere of influence. Through engaging discussions and actionable tips, you'll learn how to acknowledge what others will do ("Let them") while focusing on your empowered response ("Let me").

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
The Principal's Email Detox
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

Do you overthink everything as a principal? Do you overthink evaluations, discipline issues, dealing with teachers and parents? If that sounds like you, then this episode is for you. 

In this episode we talk about:

• What overthinking is
• Common triggers for overthinking
• Negative impacts on your teaching
• Practical solutions

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
The Principal's Email Detox
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram

Do you struggle with getting teachers onboard with RTI interventions? Do you have teachers who default students to special ed without any data? Join me on this episode where I have a conversation with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, an experienced educational consultant, about:

• Creating a more integrated approach to support all students, not just those with special needs
• Moving beyond traditional intervention models to something more responsive and effective
• Empowering school leaders to create systems where every student can succeed

This thought-provoking conversation challenges conventional thinking about special education and offers practical insights for educational leaders looking to make meaningful change.

Connect with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley on Linkedin.

Visit Dr. Kate Anderson Foley's Website.

*FREE DOWNLOADS*
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
The Principal's Email Detox
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School

*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit

*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram