RG175 Blog

Thinking about becoming a Head of School? As consultants, we meet many rising stars and talk with search committees about them. What do aspiring candidates need to bring to the table? What do boards look for? Here is some advice for candidates considering throwing their hat in the ring, as well as... read more

“I’m not feeling he has enough gravitas.” “I can’t tell if her energy is accompanied by the ability to pace herself.”  “He’s got exactly the experience we need, but there’s something a little rigid about him.”  “She’s calm, which I appreciate, but I can’t tell if she rises to challenges.”  All thes... read more

With thousands of books claiming to know the secret sauce of successful leadership, it feels overwhelming to distill all those critical attributes in an effort to predict a successful headship. To be sure, the alignment between the challenges of a particular school and the strengths of a candidate s... read more

I value humility in a leader. As an independent school search consultant, I associate humility with learning, and being a learner is one of the key qualities of effective leadership. Leaders are curious. Leaders probe, look for insights, and value the opinions of others. Thus, a candidate referred t... read more

If you’re a fan of professional basketball, you might remember when the Philadelphia 76ers began using the phrase “Trust the Process.” It happened when their new general manager wanted to emphasize process over outcome. When the team suffered several losses, many fans wanted to abandon the idea of p... read more

Quietly and unobtrusively: that is how Boards of Trustees usually conduct their work. Indeed, few members of the community are aware of its functions or its members. In the face of a Head of School transition, however, the spotlight is on the Board, and people become aware of its responsibility to r... read more