In the challenging world of educational leadership, there are considerable responsibilities, relationships and potential conflicts to manage. When encountering these pressures, the concept of “keeping your side of the street clean” can be a powerful guide for school leaders to be stronger and more effective. Keeping your side of the street clean emphasizes personal accountability, integrity and the importance of maintaining one’s own conduct without being overly concerned with the actions or shortcomings of others.
This mindset has significant implications for school leaders as they navigate complex environments and interact with students, staff and the community. By focusing on what they can control—how they act, react and uphold professional values—leaders can create healthier school cultures and become more resilient in the face of challenges. Here are three ways “keeping your side of the street clean” strengthens school leadership. This also liberates the school leader from the distraction of frustration and anger built from perseverating on the behaviors of others. We cannot control them, but we can control ourselves.
I refer to this as the 80/20 principle of leadership.
Keeping my side of the street clean empowers the school leader to focus on the aspects of a situation you can control (the 80%) while letting go of the uncontrollable (the 20%). Instead of wasting time and energy fighting insurmountable challenges like bureaucracy, difficult colleagues or uncooperative leaders, it is more productive to adjust your approach, sidestep obstacles and focus on progress within your sphere of influence. This mindset helps save time, resources and frustration while moving toward your goals more effectively.
Sounds simple enough, but how do I get there?
Fostering accountability and integrity
The core of this concept is the responsibility to stay accountable for one’s actions. Effective leaders who embody this practice consistently model the behaviors they expect from their staff and students. I once learned about a strategy for dealing with a belligerent person. When they cross the line, it is reasonable to state, “I will never speak to your child or you like that, and I expect the same in return.” This establishes a reasonable, ethical expectation while professionally holding your ground.
Leaders set a standard of integrity by taking responsibility for their decisions and actions and avoiding the temptation to blame external factors. This builds trust and encourages others in the school community to adopt the same values of accountability like the standard to speak respectfully in our school community. When leaders own their part in any positive or negative situation, it creates a culture where mistakes can be acknowledged and learned from without fear.
Effective leaders do this regularly: They model imperfection, embrace mistakes and show vulnerability. This approach to leadership is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for building trust, fostering innovation and creating a healthy organizational culture.
Reducing conflict and building stronger relationships
School leaders must mediate conflicts, whether they occur between staff members, students, or parents. When leaders adopt a “clean street” mentality, they resist the urge to engage in unnecessary drama or assign blame. Instead, they focus on controlling their responses and fostering solutions based on facts and fairness. This reduces unnecessary tension and promotes more productive, open communication. By setting the tone for mature and level-headed responses, leaders can de-escalate conflicts and build stronger, more collaborative relationships within the school community.
Encouraging personal growth and resilience
When leaders keep their side of the street clean, they actively pursue self-improvement and reflection. This practice helps them stay grounded, even in high-pressure situations and prevents them from being distracted by the behaviors of others, the 80/20 principle. Strong leaders recognize that they cannot control how others behave, but they can control how they respond. This level of self-awareness fosters personal resilience, allowing leaders to stay focused on their goals and handle setbacks with grace. Rather than getting bogged down in the flaws or faults of others, leaders can remain forward-thinking and solution-oriented.
Keeping your side of the street clean is more than just a strategy for navigating conflict; it’s a mindset that empowers school leaders to focus on their growth, maintain integrity and foster accountability. By focusing on what they can control—their actions and responses—leaders set the tone for their entire school community. This strengthens their leadership and helps create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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