Small shifts. Stronger relationships. A more connected school.
I remember days when I would leave school completely exhausted, wondering how I could have been so busy and still feel like I hadn't accomplished enough.
I'd answered countless emails, handled student situations, returned phone calls, attended meetings, and put out fires I never saw coming.
I'd think about the people I didn't get a chance to talk to.
The teacher I meant to check in with. The staff member who looked overwhelmed. The conversation I rushed through because something else needed my attention.
Then I'd get home and think…I spent the day managing my building, and I feel like I missed so much.
That's a difficult feeling to carry.
Because the reality is that the work never stops. There will always be another email, another problem, another decision.
I've learned that school culture is not built when we finally finish everything on our to-do lists.
It's built in the moments happening while we're working through them.
School culture isn't created by a motivational poster in the hallway, a perfectly written mission statement, or even the most carefully planned staff appreciation event.
It's built in the moments in between all of those things.
Here's some good news: You don't need a new initiative, a committee, or a budget to start building a stronger culture. You can start tomorrow.
Here are ten small shifts that can make a meaningful difference.
1. Start Your Day With People, Not Your Inbox
I know. The emails are waiting. Someone probably needs a reply on a date they asked you about. There's a parent message that needs a response. You need to approve purchase orders.
But before you disappear behind your computer, spend a few minutes connecting with people.
Walk the halls. Greet staff by name. Ask how their morning is going.
Not because you're checking on them.
Because you're checking in with them.
Try tomorrow: Spend the first ten minutes of your day connecting with people before opening your email.
2. Ask One Person, "What Can I Take Off Your Plate?"
We talk a lot about supporting teachers.
But sometimes our version of support involves adding something else to their already overflowing plates.
Another meeting. Another form. Another strategy. Another email.
What if we simply asked if they need anything?
You may not be able to remove every responsibility, but listening can help you identify unnecessary obstacles.
Try tomorrow: Ask one staff member, "What's one thing making your job harder than it needs to be?"
Then look for something you can actually do.
3. Replace One Email With a Conversation
Email is efficient, but it isn't always the best way to connect.
Especially when the message involves frustration, confusion, or something that could easily be misunderstood.
I have found that a five minute face to face conversation can sometimes prevent days of unnecessary tension while making stronger connections.
Tone matters. Facial expressions matter. Human connection matters.
Try tomorrow: Before sending a difficult email, ask yourself whether a conversation would be more productive.
4. Notice the People Who Rarely Get Noticed
Every school has people who quietly keep everything moving.
The paraprofessional who steps in without being asked. The custodian who solves a problem before anyone notices. The secretary who manages a hundred interruptions while still greeting families with a smile.
Some of the most important contributions in a building happen without an audience.
Try tomorrow: Find someone whose work often goes unnoticed and tell them specifically what you appreciate about their contribution.
Tell them what you noticed and why it matters.
5. Admit When You Get Something Wrong
This one can be uncomfortable.
As leaders, we sometimes feel pressure to have the answers, make the right decisions, and appear confident.
Trust, however, is not built by pretending we're perfect.
It's built when people see that we're human, accountable, and willing to learn.
I've made decisions I would handle differently today. I've responded too quickly. I've missed things.
I have learned that acknowledging those moments doesn't weaken my leadership capacity and it strengthens relationships.
Try tomorrow: If there's something you could have handled better, acknowledge it. A simple "I wish I had approached that differently" can go a long way.
6. Ask for Input Before Presenting the Solution
Have you ever brought a beautifully organized plan to your team, only to be met with silence?
Sometimes, as leaders, we're so focused on solving the problem that we forget to involve the people who experience it every day.
People are more invested in the solutions they help create.
That doesn't mean every decision becomes a vote: leadership still requires direction and accountability. Leadership is strong when we can recognize that we don't have all the answers.
Try tomorrow: Bring a problem to your team and ask, "What am I missing?" before sharing your proposed solution.
7. Follow Through on One Small Promise
Trust is built through consistency.
When we tell someone we'll look into something, they remember.
When we promise to follow up, they notice whether we do.
And when those small promises repeatedly go unanswered, trust begins to erode.
Sometimes we're so busy managing the big responsibilities that we overlook the small commitments - and those commitments matter to the people waiting on us.
Try tomorrow: Think of one person you owe a response, an answer, or an update. Follow through before the end of the day.
8. Give Someone Permission to Be Human
Teachers are human.
Principals are human.
Some days, life is simply hard.
Someone might be navigating a family crisis, a difficult student situation, or personal challenges that no one else knows about.
We don't always need to know the details to respond with compassion.
The expectations never disappear. We recognize that people sometimes need understanding before they can move forward.
Try tomorrow: When someone seems overwhelmed, resist the urge to immediately problem solve. Ask, "Do you need me to listen, help you think it through, or take action?"
Then honor their answer.
9. Create One Moment of Joy
Schools can be incredibly stressful places.
There are deadlines, assessments, behavior challenges, staffing shortages, and unexpected crises. (And if you have ever had to cover for the nurse, you know the struggle of all or nothing at once - a head injury, a splinter, a bloody nose, low blood sugar and something in an eye all at the same time. That was yesterday for me...)
But there should also be laughter.
Joy isn't the opposite of professionalism.
Creating a positive culture doesn't mean ignoring the difficult parts of the job.
Sometimes it means intentionally making room for something good in the middle of them.
We spend SO much time in our lives working - we need to make it enjoyable to keep coming back.
Try tomorrow: Find one simple opportunity to make someone smile. Share a funny moment, celebrate a small success, or create a little unexpected joy.
It doesn't have to be elaborate.
It just has to be genuine.
10. End the Day by Asking Yourself One Question
Before you leave the building, think about your interactions throughout the day.
Not all of the tasks you accomplished.
Not how many emails you answered or problems you solved.
Think about the people.
Did someone leave a conversation with you feeling heard?
Did you make space for another perspective?
Did you respond with curiosity instead of frustration?
Did your actions strengthen trust?
Try tomorrow: Before you go home, ask yourself:
"Did the people I interacted with today leave feeling more connected or more controlled?"
That question alone can change how we lead.
Culture Is Built One Interaction at a Time
Here's something I've come to believe deeply:
We cannot demand a culture of trust. We have to create the conditions for it.
Those conditions are created through hundreds of small moments that communicate:
You matter.
Your voice matters.
I see you.
We're in this together.
As leaders, we have an incredible opportunity to shape how people experience their workplace.
Not every interaction will be perfect. Not every decision will be popular. There will absolutely be days when we get it wrong.
But we can choose to keep learning.
We can choose to listen before reacting.
We can choose connection over control.
And we can start tomorrow.
The Connection Shift
1 Moment: You're overwhelmed by the demands of leading a school and wondering how you'll ever find time to focus on culture.
1 Shift: Stop thinking of culture as another thing on your to-do list. Start recognizing it in the interactions you're already having.
1 Question: What's one small thing I can do tomorrow that will help someone in my building feel more connected?
You don't have to do all ten things tomorrow.
Start with one. See what changes. Then keep going.
A Little Connection, Delivered Every Sunday
Leadership is hard. And sometimes all we need is a moment to reflect, a fresh perspective, or a reminder that we're not navigating the challenges alone.
That's why I created 1 Moment. 1 Shift. 1 Question., a short weekly Sunday email designed to help you begin the week with greater intention.
Each Sunday, I'll share:
1 Moment: A real story or experience from life or leadership.
1 Shift: A small change in perspective or approach that might make a meaningful difference.
1 Question: Something to reflect on as you move into the week ahead.
No overwhelming to-do lists. No additional initiatives. Just a few minutes of reflection, encouragement, connection, and simple things to try in your own world.
Small moments. Meaningful shifts. Stronger connections.
Join my email list and start your Sunday with a little connection.
Karla Reinhardt is a practicing school principal, trauma-informed leadership trainer, and author of From Control to Connection: Leading Through Chaos to Form Foundational Trust.
Explore more practical leadership ideas at www.controltoconnection.com.
